NAWSA SUBJECT FILE Hay, Mary Garrett Your sketch is on page 42 WOMAN'S WHO'S WHO OF AMERICA A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada JOHN W. LEONARD, Editor-in-Chief EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MRS. MATTHEW T. SCOTT, Washington, D. C. President-General National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. MRS. SELDON STUART WRIGHT, San Francisco President National Society Colonial Dames of America in the State of California. MISS MARY GARRETT HAY, New York City President New York State Federation of Women's Clubs. MISS ELIZA GORDON BROWNING, Indianapolis Librarian of the Indianapolis Public Library. DR. ZELLA ALLEN DIXSON, Chicago Librarian, Author, Lecturer (Head Univ. of Chicago Library, 1890-1911.) MRS. W. W. KING, Kalorama, Staunton, Va. President Virginia State Federation of Women's Clubs. MRS. NETTIE K. GRAVETT, Columbus, Ohio Former State Librarian of Colorado; now Ass't State Librarian of Ohio. MRS. SAMUEL SEMPLE, Titusville, Pa. President State Federation of Pennsylvania Women. MRS. THEODORE C. BATES, Worcester, Mass. Vice-President-General National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. MRS. WILLIAM R. CHIVVIS, St. Louis, Mo. President Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs. THIS NEW BIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE BOOK IS NOW READY FOR DELIVERY AND IT CONTAINS ACCURATE PERSONAL SKETCHES OF TEN THOUSAND OF THE LEADING WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA; THESE SKETCHES COVER THE FIELDS OF ART, LITERATURE, SCIENCE, EDUCATION, LAW, MEDICINE, MUSIC, THE STAGE, LECTURING, JOURNALISM, RELIGION, PHILANTHROPY, WELFARE WORK, SOCIAL SERVICE, TEMPERANCE, SUFFRAGE, SOCIETY AND CLUB LIFE; A MOST VALUABLE REFERENCE BOOK FOR EVERY HOME LIBRARY. CONTAINING ABOUT 1000 PAGES, HANDSOMELY BOUND IN PURPLE CLOTH PRICE: FIVE DOLLARS PUBLISHED BY The American Commonwealth Company 43 WEST TWENTY-SEVENTH STREET, NEW YORK PIERCE--PIERSON 647 lied Arts, Society of Artists. Recreations: Golf, tennis, riding and swimming. Mem. Country Club. Twentieth Century Club. PIERCE, Grace Adele, Santa Monica, Cal. Author; b. Randolph, N. Y.; dau. John Crowley and Marion A. (Pengrey) Pierce; ed. Chamberlain Inst., Randolph, N. Y., and under private instructors. Engaged on the Chautauqua publications, 1901, and with various publications in Los Angeles, Cal., 1904-06. Contributor of stories, prose articles and verses to leading magazines, lecturer on literature and the art of writing and versification. Favors woman suffrage. Author; Child Study of the Classics, 1898; The Silver Chord and the Golden Bowl (verses), 1901; also various leaflets on social questions, etc. PIERCE, Helen Frances, 7 North St., Plymouth, Mass. Physician; b. Plymouth, Mass., Mar. 1, 1861; dau. Melzar and Abby (Morse) Pierce; grad. Plymouth (Mass.) High School, '78; Boston Univ. School of Medicine M.D., '87. General practitioner of medicine at Plymouth, Mass., since 1889, also lectures occasionally to girls' clubs and to the nurses of Jordan Hospital. Interested in church and temperance work. Mem. Am. Inst. of Homeopathy, Mass. Homeopathic Med. Soc., Mass. Surgical and Gynecological Soc. Mem. Methodist Episcopal Church. Clubs: Plymouth, Woman's, Twentieth Century Medical (Boston). PIERCE, Imogene S., 3912 Vincennes Av., Chicago, Ill. Teacher, lecturer; b. Chicago, Ill.; grad. Rockford (Ill.) Sem. (now college), 1877. Since graduation has divided time between teaching and decorative art in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. Established a large private school in Chicago and became its principal. Has been actively identified with N. Y. Soc. for Political Study, Kindergarten Ass'n of Washington (D. C.), Woman's Sanitary League of Philadelphia; ex-pres. of Ass'n for Higher Education of Women. Has delivered courses of lectures on Shakespeare before Chautauqua assemblies and in New York and Philadelphia. Mem. Chicago Woman's Club, Shakespeare Club. PIERCE, Lucy France, 4847 Grand Blvd., Chicago, Ill. Journalist, playwright; b. Chicago, May 2, 1877; dau. George Webster and Bertha (von Bluhem) Pierce; ed. Vassar Coll; Univ. of Chicago. Ph.B. Favors woman suffrage. Episcopalian. Republican. Mem. Alumnae Ass'n of Univ. of Chicago. PIERCE, Mary Rosetta Fitch (Mrs. Charles C. Pierce), 216 W. Twenty-third St., Los Angeles, Cal. Born Walton, N. Y.; grad Vassar Coll., A.B. '87. m. Sept 2, 1891, Charles C. Pierce; two daughters. Teacher Randolph, Mass., 1888-90; Dedham, Mass., 1890-91; Los Angeles, Cal., 1899-1900. Compiler: Child Classics in Poetry; Child Classics in Prose. PIERCE, Ulrica Dahlgren (Mrs. Josiah Pierce), 1325 Massachusetts Av., Washington, D. C. Born Washington, D. C.; dau. John A. Dahlgren, Rear-Admiral of the U. S. Navy, and Madeleine (Vinton) Dahlgren; ed. at home by tutors and governesses and at Sacred Heart Convent (Enfant de Marie); m. country place, "Dahlen," Md., Sept. 15, 1891, Josiah Pierce; children: Josiah, b. 1892; Vinton Ulric, b. 1896. Identified with various religious, social and philanthropic activities. Catholic. Favors limited suffrage for both men and women. Republican. PIERS, Constance Fairbanks (Mrs. Harry Piers), 134 Shirley St., Halifax, Nova Scotia. Born Dartmouth, N. S., May 10, 1866; dau. Lewis Piers Fairbanks and Ella (De Wolfe) Fairbanks (granddaughter of Hon. C. R. Fairbanks, master of the Rolls and judge of Court of Vice Admiralty of N. S.): ed. Dartmouth, N. S.; m. Halifax, Jan. 7, 1901, Harry Piers (curator of Provincial Museum of N. S. and librarian of Provincial Science Library); one son: Edward Stanyan F. At first was secretary to Dr. C. F. Fraser, principal of School for the Blind, and editor of the Critic. Took editorial charge of the Critic (Halifax), as assistant editor, 1890-92; assoc. editor St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Caledonian, 1893-94. Interested in music, literature, art. Favors woman suffrage, but not militant methods. Writer of numerous articles in the Critic, the Caledonian, etc., and many poems, which have appeared in the Week (Toronto), Canadian Magazine (Toronto), and other journals, and some of which are contained in Dr. Rand's Treasury of Canadian Verse. Contributed papers to the Halifax Ladies' Musical Club and various literary societies. Selected and edited, jointly with husband, the poems of the late Mrs. William Lawson, published under the title of Frankincense and Myrrh (Halifax), 1893. Mem. Church of England. Mem. Halifax Ladies' Musical Club (a society organized for the study of music and of the lives of composers and their works). PIERSOL, Florence Lukens (Mrs. George A. Piersol), 4724 Chester Av., Philadelphia, Pa. Born Philadelphia, Nov. 6, 1865; dau. Linford and Anna Mary (Reeder) Lukens; ed. Friends School; grad. Friends Central School, Philadelphia, '82; m. (1st) Philadelphia, April 28, 1886, William Reeder; (2d) June 22, 1898, George A. Piersol; children: Ruth, David K., William T., Anna M. Reeder, J. Marshall Piersol. Mem. West Philadelphia Com. for Philadelphia Orchestra; vice-pres. Drama League; director and mem. Reconstructed Fourth Ass'n Com.; Mem. County Woman Suffrage Soc., Equal Franchise Soc.; leader Twenty-first Legislative Dist. of the Pa. Woman Suffrage Party in Philadelphia, Mem. Philadelphia Ethical Soc. Recreation: Music. Clubs: New Century (director), Philomusian (director and ex-pres.); vice-pres. State Fed. of Pa. Women; mem. Matinee Musical Club. PIERSON, Emily, Cromwell, Conn. Woman suffrage organizer; b. Cromwell, Conn., June 25, 1881; dau. Andrew N. and Margaret S. (Allison) Pierson; ed. Middletown High School; Nancy, France, Pensionnat Dure; Vassar Coll., A. B.; Columbia Univ., A. M. In charge of English dep't of Bristol (Conn.) High School two years before entering active suffrage work. Interested in child welfare, education, social hygiene, work of Nat. Vigilance Ass'n, conditions of working women and labor problems. State organizer, Conn. Woman Suffrage Ass'n. Congregationalist. Mem. Women's Political Union of New York, Nat. Coll. Equal Suffrage League, Nat. Woman Suffrage Ass'n, Am. Automobile Ass'n, Conn. Automobile Ass'n, Colo. Mountain Club, Phi Beta Kappa. Recreations: Swimming, skating, tennis, automobiling, dancing, fishing. PIERSON, Fanny Eaton (Mrs. Henry R. Pierson), The Touraine, 23 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Born Hamilton, N. Y.; dau. George W. and Eliza H. (Boardman) Eaton; grad. Troy Female Sem.; m. (1st) Charles A. Mott; (2d) Henry R. Pierson; three children, two sons and one daughter. Anti-suffragist. Baptist. Mem. New England Soc., Sorosis Club. PIERSON, Grace Rappleye, care of Mrs. A. H. Pierson, Trumansburg, N. Y. Teacher; b. Trumansburg, N. Y., Mar. 14, 1879; dau. Albert Henry and Harriet I. (Rappleye) Pierson; ed. Trumansburg High School, Cortland Normal and Cornell Univ., A. B. '04, with honor (mem. Delta Gamma). Was principal of high school, Burlington, N. J.; teacher of German and French in high school, Calumet, Mich. Baptist. Spending year 1912-13 in France in post-graduate study of French language. PIERSON, Margaret, 18 Hillger St., Orange, N. J. Born Orange, N. J., Oct. 5, 1858; dau. William and Isabel Fiske (Adams) Pierson; ed. Vassar Coll. B.A. '78. Interested in club activities and social home duties. Governor Orange Memorial Hospital; mem. Anti-Tuberculosis League; pres. Visiting Nurses' Settlement. Mem. N. Y. Soc. Opposed to Woman Suffrage. Protestant Episcopal communicant. Independent in politics. Mem. Alumnae Ass'n of Vassar Coll. Recreation: Outdoor life. Clubs: Meriden, Monday Music, Woman's University (N. Y. City), Peterborough Golf. Sample Page FOR THE NEWSPAPER This volume will at once take its place with the indispensible books. It contains information constantly sought (and generally unattainable) by every up-to-date newspaper, and at least 90 per cent. of which is not to be found in any other publication. It is a book which the newspaper worker will find brimful of "copy" material, presented in condensed, complete and up-to-date form. A BOOK OF WIDE APPEAL All interested in American and Canadian women and their activities will need this book. No other publication deals with the personal side of woman's achievements in any adequate degree. Who's Who books of a general character pay little attention to women, who form less than 10 per cent. of their subjects. This Book Should be in EVERY LIBRARY Why? You have a dictionary and an encyclopedia. Dictionaries and encyclopedias describe inanimate things. Is it not quite as important that you should have a reference book of live people; people who are doing things? These sixteen thousand women whose biographies appear in this volume exercise a tremendous daily influence for good--for better living, for cleaner politics, for educational and religious uplift. You cannot pick up a newspaper or magazine without finding the names of some of them. When you see an unfamiliar name is it not worth while to have a reference book handy? Is it not worth something to know what leading women stand for, what they have accomplished, what educational advantages, if any, they have had, and what religious or benevolent work they are giving their thought to? Every active member of every woman's club in the country should have a copy of this biographical directory. The publishers have had the enthusiastic support and co-operation of hundreds of the leading women of the country all of whom feel the great need of just such an authoritative work of reference J W Hone THE WOMAN’S COLUMN. MRS. DANIELS, wife of Capt. Daniels of the Water Lily, has just been licensed as pilot of that steamer. The Bombay Gazette has broken the ice by employing sixteen Anglo-Indian girls as compositors and a woman as proof-reader. The Connecticut House of Representatives has passed a bill making women eligible to election on district school boards. MISS CATHERINE WOLFE helped a number of girls through Vassar, without letting them know from whom the money came. MRS. CUSTER is delighted with the scenery and climate of Southern California, and pronounces it “an excellent trip for overworked and worn-out women.” MRS. JESSIE BENTON FREMONT expects to spend the summer in the West, writing a life of Kit Carson, the famous scout and explorer who guided Gen. Fremont over the Rocky Mountains. Since the world began, to refine society has been woman’s function. You may be sure that she who has carried refinement to the household, to the church, to social life, to literature, to art, to every interest except government, will also carry it to legislation and the whole of civil procedure.- Henry Ward Beecher. Many of the arguments that are used against letting women vote were used against letting women enter the professions, and with more force. For if a woman has not physical or mental capacity enough to help choose a selectman, she certainly has not capacity enough to practice law or medicine, or to preach the gospel. MISS MARY TILLINGHAST is one of the most successful among the women who have made a business of decorative art. Vanderbilt once paid her $30,000 for inventing a new kind of tapestry hangings for his houses. She supplied the designs for the stained-glass window just erected in Grace Church, N. Y., representing Jacob’s Dream. No piece of cathedral art had ever been intrusted in this country to a woman, but her designs were so obviously the best that precedent was broken through. The angels ascending and descending the ladder are full of life and vigor, and the window ranks with the best of modern decorative work. THE OLD-FASHIONED TEACHER. Hon. A. D. Harlan, in his speech in the Pennsylvania Senate, made a telling answer to the objection that women are unfit to take part in government: “The time was, and not long since, that it was thought it would never do to give a winter school in the rural districts to a lady, because she would never be able to govern the big boys. She might teach a small school during the summer months, because it would be composed of little children, but a good, big, strong man would have to be employed for the winter months. And some of us here, who are quite young, can well remember this ideal male teacher, as he entered the school room the first morning of the term with his bundle of rods, which he put up over his desk as a terror to all the pupils; and how, as a rule, he would try to find some fault with the boy who had been the ringleader in mischief the last session, so that he, the teacher, might give him a thrashing the first day, and thus secure the government of the school for the term. But that kind of government has disappeared, and in its place there rules, instead, a gentle maiden, and her rule is perfect, for it is the rule of love. “To-day this Commonwealth has more than fifteen thousand such women, who are governing a million of our boys and girls, and training them for usefulness in life. “We admit their superiority in this work. and yet we discriminate against them by paying them at least thirty per cent. less than we do male teachers, when they do the same work, and do it better. “Should we thus discriminate against woman if she had a vote? No, not for a day. We should not dare to do it. “Has this change in our public schools degraded these fifteen thousand women? No, it has made them respected and honored everywhere. “Women entered the telegraph office, and the vile language often indulged in by men disappeared. “Women are to-day sought for in the office, in the store, and all the departments of business where brains, virtue, and honesty are wanted. “it is to-day everywhere admitted that where the unjust discrimination of man has yielded to the growing civilization of the age, and allowed women an equal race in any of the professions, she has proven herself worthy of the place. “I have no fear that if we give woman liberty, she will be less feminine, for woman can never be unwomanly. She, like man, acquires character and self-control in proportion as her sphere enlarges.” “THE IGNORANT CLASSES.” Autocracy and aristocracy are only adjournments of democracy. There is no higher appeal than to the conscience and intelligence of the human race; there is no higher object than its dignity and advantage. Democracy has no antagonists save the enemies of the human kind - the ignorant or excessive tendencies which lead men away from what is wise and true and temperate. It might be said: If wisdom must govern, the few must govern. Yes; but they must govern in the interest of the man, and in order that they may do this, the many must have a voice in choosing them. But what shall we say of those who, having made no careful study of these great questions, rush into them with a violent passion, and ignorance of the great principles that govern, and call up the spectacle of an ignorant and brutal mob as a motive for the denial of the most sacred human rights? I confess I am not entirely disinterested in asking this question. There is a strong movement to-day that aims at the crushing of the aspirations of women to the full rights of citizenship. It is only that, and nothing more. Women who ask for votes are met by the hue and cry, ‘Voting by ignorant women will overthrow society.’ Voting by ignorant men has almost done that already. The extension of the suffrage for men has been sought both here and in England, and has been accomplished by statesmen of particularly philanthropic views. They have done this in the interest of ignorance, and in order that the ignorant might govern. These same people, moreover, have ever shown themselves zealous for the promotion of education everywhere. Is it not evident that in the extension of the suffrage a larger knowledge is brought into government? And can it be that those who oppose the extension of the suffrage on the ground of giving power to ignorant classes are those ignorant of the principles embodied in the government under which they live? In the name of common sense and justice, I protest against that general cry which lays the burden of our social and political evils upon some supposed class of the community given over to the interest of life upon a low and brutal plane. “Double the ignorant vote? Rather let us free ourselves from it altogether.” Yes, if we could only find out where it is. That class which has often shown its capacity to lead is liable to put the immediate gain or convenience in the place of the substantial advantage, and to sacrifice the greater though more remote good to the nearer and lesser gain. You will remember that the wealth and fashion of Boston took no stock in the notions of Mr. Garrison and Wendell Phillips. The question of the franchise to-day is as vital a question as any that ever divided the options of the social world; yet, in a time of general metamorphosis, we abide in our rut, like the Bourbons of France, in the account given of them by Talleyrand. We forget everything we should remember. Let us look at what the change has been. Every male citizen is now an efficient member of the body politic. The relations of women to men have been wholly changed. But good men say to women, ‘We can neither help you nor let you help yourselves,’ and they profess to do it in the interests of law, order, and good government. JULIA WARD HOWE. Georgia chartered and built the first women’s college in the United States. I am in favor of woman suffrage.- Phillips Brooks. Ella Wheeler Wilcox gives away in charity all the money she gets for her poems. A niece of Maria Mitchell, of Vassar, is one of the proof-readers on the new Century dictionary. You cannot claim a single right for man that you do not yield to woman- Rev. J. T. Duryea, D. D. A class of seven young women will graduate next month from the training- school for nurses at the Buffalo (N. Y.) General Hospital. Six young women received their diplomas in January. Trained nursing is growing in favor as a profession for women. About fifty women have this year been elected as school supervisors in Maine. The State superintendent of schools testifies that women on school committees are reformers, and can be counted on to favor the most enlightened ways of dealing with teachers and scholars. Maria Mitchell says: “ I have so long believed it was right for women to have a share in the government that it seems like the first axiom I learned in geometry.” MISS FLORENCE GREENE, of Montreal, who saved her father last summer from being carried over the Lachine Rapids, has been presented with the medal of the Royal Humane Society of England. All reports from Kansas applaud the fidelity of the colored women to the law and order ticket. Says one writer in Our Messenger: “They stood a solid front against the enemy. No money could buy them, no threats intimidate them, no flatteries persuade them. The said, ‘We are for law and order and against the saloons.’” A new trade for women is that of “neighborhood darner.” The woman who follows it has for her customers a dozen or twenty households, each of which she visits weekly, and spends a few hours in doing up the family darning and mending, including ripping and cleansing of old gowns. Her engagements are systematized, and she never lacks work. Some of these menders make a specialty of repairing lace and other delicate fabrics. The pay is fairly good, and the professional mender is a great blessing to busy housekeepers with large families. MRS. MARY L. BARR, who is coming into notice through her Scotch dialect stories, began to write when she was fifty- four. She lost her husband, who was Military Governor of Texas, and seven children, all within twenty-four hours, from yellow fever, and found herself left with four little ones, and with only fifty cents in her pocket-book. She went to New York and became a governess in the family of one of A. T. Stewart’s partners. Her first tale was written to gratify the whim of her employer. It was promptly accepted by a publisher, and since then she has gone on writing with growing success. JUSTICE PAYS. Experience does not seem to bear out the idea that domestic morality is improved by restricting the personal and property rights of wives. France is the most notoriously immoral country in Europe; yet in France the husband has by law the most despotic power over his wife. The French code was drawn up in accordance with the will of Napoleon, who said: “A husband must have absolute control over his wife’s actions. He has a right to say to her, ‘Madame, you shall not go out; madame, you shall not go to the play; madame, you shall not see such and such persons; in short, madame, you are my property, body and soul.’” Comparing the morals of France with those of England or America, it seems safe to infer that justice to women is not only right, but wholesome. A. S. B. BISHOP HAVEN ON THE WOMEN QUESTION. Bishop Gilbert Haven, in a Thanksgiving sermon reviewing the various reforms of the day, said: “The suffrage of woman must follow that of the African. She is a citizen already, frequently a tax-payer, always of equal intelligence, often of superior virtue to man. She is our mother; and who believes he knows more than his mother, or is better able to understand and exercise any duty? She is our wife; who that deserves a wife believes himself superior of that wedded soul? She is our sister; and who does not know that when in school together she more frequently led him in scholarship than he her? She is of the commonwealth, having equal rights with every other member. She is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. Surely all enforced exclusion of her from her just claims is the greatest injustice. If we preeminently despite the man who strikes a woman, how should we feel towards the State which thus strikes down all its women, and robs them of all power of defence from its blows? “Above all, we need her help, Christ is seeking to establish his empire in the earth. It is an empire of peace, of unity, of righteousness, of love. It is to be established in good-willing men, in holy laws, in sacred institutions, in purified society. How can this be done except by the co-operation of the best and most numerous members of that society? Only by woman’s vote can the kingdom of God be completely established. Only thus can we save the State from debauchery and utter demoralization. “That work will go forward. It is advancing everywhere; and when the next election comes, may we see our sisters sitting by us, and transforming the dirty, smoky atmosphere of the voting-rooms into sweet and quiet parlors, full of pleasure and peace.” COMMITTEE GEN. FRANCIS HENRY APPLETON, Chairman MARGARET DELAND REV. JAMES De NORMANDIE, D. D. *ARCHIBALD M. HOWE JOSEPH LEE JOHN T. MORSE, JR. JOSEPH GRAFTON MINOT *MAY ALDEN WARD *ANNE WHITNEY ARTHUR WINSLOW, Treasurer 131 State Street, Boston ERVING WINSLOW, Secretary *Deceased Concord, Mass., November 12, 1920. To the Members of the Women’t Clubs of the Massachusetts State Federation: The Federation, five years ago, endorsed the effort to raise a fund for the erection of a statue to Anne Hutchinson, the campaign for which was suspended during the war. But during this time efforts made to secure a proper site for the statue have been crowned with success, one being assigned to it in the State House. The gift of the status, when completed, was provisionally accepted by Governor Coolidge for the Commonwealth, June 17 last. It is hoped that those who endorsed the plan will desire to see it brought to fulfillment, in co-operation with others interested, and the clubs are urged to send a generous contribution to Mr. Arthur Winslow, Treasurer, 131 State Street, Boston, who will furnish a receipt for all gifts. There is subjoined a circular sent to a large number of persons, descendants of Anne Hutchinson, and others in behalf of the Fund, which is being responded to hopefully. $3000 is still required for the completion of the Fund. MARION C. BAKER, President. MARY GARRETT HAY (Excerpt from “More ‘Rampant Women’” by Maud Wood Park) .......... It is not easily possible to think of Mrs. Catt without her fidus Achates, Miss Mary Garrett Hay, who worked by her side for over a quarter of a century. In more than one respect Mrs. Catt and Miss Hay have divided efforts somewhat in the fashion of Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony, during the earlier period of the suffrage movement. Many of the plans that Mrs. Catt made, Miss Hay carried out with the skill of a born executive and the shrewdness of a trained politician. When Mrs. Catt conceived the idea of forming women into a woman suffrage party, organized on the block, street and precinct plan by which Tammany Hall had gained its powder, Miss Hay whipped the Woman Suffrage Party of New York City into shape and made it a model for the rest of the country. By 1917 the New York City organization was strong enough to carry the city for suffrage with a majority sufficient to offset the adverse vote in other parts of the state. Without the victory in New York- that is without Miss Hay- we might still be at work for the Nineteenth Amendment. Where Mrs. Catt had the vision of the statesman, Miss Hay added the insight of a practical politician. Indeed for years the newspaper folk called her “the Big Boss”. Born in Indiana where there is said to be more politics to the inch than there is to the mile in most other states, she shared the enthusiastic interest of her father and brothers in political affairs. Thus she came to understand the motives which govern the average politician and the methods by which he gets his way. And she learned to talk to men on their own ground without yielding an iota of her self- respect or her devotion to the cause of women. She had also been thoroughly trained in methods of work with women Mary Garrett Hay - 2. by years of activity in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. In the 90’s, when Mrs. Catt was chairman of the organization committee of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, Miss Hay was secretary of the committee and travelled with Mrs. Catt from state to state, building or strengthening state and local associations on which, in the last analysis, success depended. During the last two years of intensive work for the Nineteenth Amendment, Miss Hay spent much time in Washington, where her Republican affiliations were of great value in the tactical work of the Congress. REPORT OF THE NEW YORK CITY WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY- NOV. 1917 through NOV. 1918. by MISS MARY GARRETT HAY- CITY CHAIRMAN- The work of the [New York City] Woman Suffrage Party of New York City for the past year has been conducted along diverse lines and has been divided into various heads. These are Educational, Political, Legislative, Congressional, Patriotic, and Local. EDUCATIONAL- The educational work of the Party took the form of a network o of classes through the five boroughs of the city [through which] where civic and political instruction was given to women voters in a practical and systematic way. To further this purpose [the Party] we formed a Committee called The Woman Voter’s Council under whose direction various sub-chairmen took charge of different phases of the educational work, one attending to Lectures, another to Literature, another to the Speakers, another to Assembly District work, another to the publishing of Political Primer &c Beginning with a course at headquarters with Professor Howard Lee McBain of Columbia University as lecturer, the Council gave in all 550 courses and lectures under its own auspices and assisted the assembly district organizations to give hundreds more. Through these classes women in all ranks of society were reached,- the clubwomen through their own organizations, society women through classes in private homes, the women of the tenements through the Mothers’ Clubs of the public schools and [through the] settlements, businness women through classes held in department stores, laundries, candy shops, banks, insurance companies, factories, printing houses and places (2) of amusements like the Hippodrome. Ministers gave the use of their churches and lecture rooms, priests the use of their parish houses for citizenship talks and the Board of Education co-operated to make possible many night classes in the public school buildings. Hotel employees were reached and foreign women talked to on the streets, in the parks, in their homes and at indoor meetings held at recreation centers in the congested districts. A corps of twelve lecturers were kept busy constantly, telling women how to vote, explaining the platforms of the parties, the duties of public officials and the functions of the city, state and national governments. Estimating that there are one million women voters in Greate New York OVER ONE HALF HAVE BEEN REACHED THROUGH THE CLASSES OF THE [CITY] WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY - 300,000 women voters having listened to lectures or attended courses of instruction. Beside the lectures, civis lessons have been distributed, primers sold, and leaflets and fliers prepared for special political occasions, spread broadcast among the women voters of the city. These may be enumerated as follows: Civic lessons distributed ----------------------------------120,000 Political primers ---------------------------------------------1,000 Fliers for Special Congressional Elections in February--------100,000 Fliers for Enrolment Day in May -------------------------400,000 Fliers for Primaries ---------------------------------------400,000 Fliers for Registration Week -----------------------------470,000 Fliers for Election Day -------------------------------------75,000 Making a grand total of --------------------------------1,566,000 (3) pieces of literature given out by the City Woman Suffrage Party from January 1918 to November 1918. SPECIAL FEATURES- Special features of the work were four Open Forum meetings held in the four Congressional Districts before the special Congressional Elections at which meetings the women voters were given an opportunity to hear Congressional candidates speak and to question them as to their beliefs and policies. An exhibition before Registration Week of slides in all the Motion Picture Houses of the City was given before and during Registration Week urging women to register and telling them the dates on which to do this. Women in the big office buildings through the business section of Manhattan were circularized with registration fliers before Registration week by a Suffrage Squad and 500 Registration Placards hung in the halls and rest rooms of the buildings. A large Citizenship Rally was held on May 16th at Aeolian Hall for the women voters of the city at which prominent men from the four dominant parties explained the basic principles and policies of their parties. [Senator Robert F. Wagner spoke for the Democrats, Senator Albert F. Ottinger for the Republicans, Mr. Morris F, Hillquit for the Socialists and Dr. Ralph Meyers for the Prohibitionists.] We urged in every way Women to enroll in party, by circulars, by meetings, by press notices. Non-Partisan Rallies were held in most of the assembly districts in the city and innumerable meetings where local candidates and men already in office met their women constituents. *We urged the appointment of women as Inspectors, Poll Clerks, & other Election Officials, and in almost every [Election] polling place half of the election officials were women. We held classes in Assembly Districts for chair women, poll clerks & Inspectors, [that they would] desiring the women to serve honestly and well. (4) POLITICAL- Through a Political Committee the City Woman Suffrage Party has further assisted the women voters to get a good understanding of the policies and platforms of the Parties, to size up candidates and to get the views of these latter on a number of questions of especial interest to women. All the State, Congressional and local candidates were interviewed by the members of the committee and each one asked whether he believed in woman suffrage, whether he favored the passge of the Federal Amendment through Congress and its ratification by the State Legislature, whether he believed in various kinds of labor legislation, was opposed to profiteering, and would support the government to the utmost in the prosecution of the war. Answers were received from over three-fourths of the candidates, only those who were abroad or ill at the time being unable to give the matter their attention. Some candidates were so interested in the data filed about themselves at suffrage headquarters that they did not hesitate to visit our offices and see for themselves what the women voters were learning about them. Before the primaries and before Election Day, many hundreds of women voters availed themselves of the opportunity to look up the biographies and records of the candidates and to consult the questionaires. So many women came in fact that the headquarters took on the activity and excitement of a suffrage campaign. A squad of women had to be detailed to answer questions over the telephone, a number had to preside over the exhibition of the questionaires, another had to answer questions and discuss measures, and alast group had to keep the tables in the hall laden and groaning with piles of campaign literature that vanished like snow (5) under a hot sun. The political work done by the City Suffrage Party was of great value. It is a fact that the political parties made little or no attempt to get the women to enroll, to vote at the primaries, to register and to vote at the general election. The political parties do not want the woman vote. The non-partisan stand taken by the City Suffrage Party gave the women of the city confidence in whatever information was dispensed so that women continually sought help and advice before taking their various political steps. Suffrage captains and workers distributing fliers throughout their districts sometimes by house to house canvasses, sometimes by leaving them at clubs, stores, settlements, public libraries, churches, &c did an important work in stirring up the interest among women and giving them accurate information about enrolment day, the primaries, registration week, and Election Day and telling them what polling places to visit and how to mark their ballots correctly. Before Registration Week the Political Committee circularized by letter over 600 ministers and priests in Greater New York asking them to urge the women of their congregations to register for patriotic reasons and to do this from the pulpit. Before Election Day, many of the Districts under the supervision of the Political Committee established temporary headquarters for Nov 4th and 5th which became Political Information Centers which were widely patronized by women voters. Through the Political Committee the district leaders were given copies of the records and questionaires of local candidates which they displayed in their districts. (6) LEGISLATIVE WORK— Mrs. Rosalie Loew Whitney acting for the City [Woman Suffrage] Party has during the year co-operated with the State Woman Suffrage Party in furthering legislation at Albany. Mrs. Whitney assisted in pushing the bill which provided for the enrolment of women on May 25th, and also [took] part in the work done for the Whitney-Tallett Bill which provided for public nurses in rural districts. Help was also given to secure the passage of the bill drafted and introduced by the Americanization Committee which provided for the training of teachers of adult illiterates appropriating $20,000 for the purpose. Through our City Government Committee of which Mrs. F. Robertson Jones was chairman the City [WL] Party took active interest in the bill which provided that members of the Parole Commission be paid in order to give their full time to the work. CONGRESSIONAL WORK— Before the Federal Amendment came to a vote in Congress, all New York Congressmen were interviewed by members of the [our] City Party's Congressional Committee. Of the 24 Congressmen, only one refused to express himself in favor. All were present when the Amendment came before the House except Congressman La Guardia who was in France and who at the request of the City, [Woman Suffrage] Party cabled his pair. All through the year Mrs. Whitney and other members [officers] of the City [Woman Suffrage] Party have done continuous and excellent work to help the Federal Amendment through Congress. (7) PATRIOTIC - WAR STAMPS. The City Woman Suffrage Party has continued many phases of its war work. Manhattan Borough leaders and captains formed a large War Stamp Society and Mrs. Tiffany started them in their work by purchasing one thousand dollars worth of Thrift and War Savings Stamps. These stamps were sold to assembly district leaders to the limit of one hundred dollars worth, the leaders sold them to the captains and the captains pushed their sale by establishing units of ten people, each person pledging herself to buy the stamps regularly and to induce ten other people to do the same. Bklyn Queens and Richmond suffragists also sold stamps. The last report showed that $35,335.02 worth of stamps were sold and the work is still continuing. ---------------------------------- KNITTING TEAM - A Knitting Team under the direction of Mrs. John McCutcheon has worked steadily through the year for the Red Cross. And has knitted - 2,500- garments - sweaters, socks, + mufflers. ---------------------------------- UNITED WAR WORK DRIVE - During the recent United War Work Drive Manhattan Borough Leaders formed a Suffrage Team and although their work was limited to a circularization of members only of the Borough Woman Suffrage Party, they raised $2100 in a few days. THE LIBERTY LOANS- Many members [of the City Suffrage Party] took part in these but the Party did not act officially. [*8*] ‏PATRIOTIC SUFFRAGE CANTEEN- Under the auspices of the 3rd A.D. of Manhattan , a Suffrage Canteen for Soldiers and Sailors had been in operation for some months at 345 West 14th Street- , providing meals for 50 men a day The canteen is situated not far from the docks where the big steamers land so that it has been convenient for the men . It has been so well liked by those who discovered it that one young sailor put in a modest request to have the suffragists feed regularly the men of a whole ship_two or three hundred - As the accomodations of the canteen will not warrent such an undertaking the request had to be denied . On Thanksgiving Day one hundred soldiers and sailors were given a dance and a dinner . The canteen runs a reading and writing room for the men where they can rest and meet each other socially . All the help given to this canteen is voluntary. [classes for women Polling clerks and Inspectors.] [*Press work - Our chairman Mrs. O. Haskill, Edits a Bulletin weekly sent to our 62 Leaders & all Boro Ch & Officers - She gives out news to our metropolitan papers. and has had our Circulars printed in several foreign papers - for Enrollment, Registration - & Election days -*] [(8)] 9 LOCAL WORK - Through our City Government Committee members [of the City Suffrage Party] were kept in touch with the activities of the Board of Aldermen and with the plans and purposes of many heads of City Departments. The Party by letter and personal interviews exerted its influence to have a woman appointed as the head of the Home Bureau of the Charities Department to oversee the placing of children in temporary homes to tide them over the crises when their relatives are unable to care for them. The Party also took an active interest in free lunches for school children sending a speaker to advocate this proposition at a hearing before the Board of Education. Little trips to sessions of the Board of Aldermen and to inspect city institutions were conducted by members of the [*Committee*] [Party] and enjoyed by numbers of women voters who learned in this way little lessons in civics. -------------------------- So much for the past - our work for the future - we have moved 373 Fifth Ave, Where our sign + banners will let [the] all know we are still on the watch - Our first work in cleaning up polling places tell of what I have done - + the model one - Have the History of all men or women who had held office in part five or six years - + how hold office or likely to - with our suffrage alone - but all questions that interest us - [*Printed in Natl WSA Proceedings for 1918*] REPORT OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY OF NEW YORK CITY. FOR YEAR 1918. MARY GARRET HAY, CHAIRMAN The Woman Suffrage Party of New York City accomplished a great educational and civic work during the year of 1918, placing all its resources at the service of the women voters, who through a network of classes, extending all over the city were taught their A.B.C.' in Citizenship. The work of the Woman Suffrage Party functioned through the following committees: LOCAL GOVERNMENT, this committee kept in touch with work of the Board of Aldermen and with the plans of the City Departments. Worked for the appointment of a woman as head of the Home Bureau of the Department of Charities, her duties being those attendant on the placing of children temporarily in homes to tide them over a family cirsis. The Woman Suffrage Party advocated free lunches for undernourished school children, sending a speaker whenever a hearing was held before the Board of Education to consider the subject. Took an active part in the fight to have the City Administration retain the Bureau of Child Hygiene of which Dr. Josephine Baker is the Director. PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE Stimulated the sale of War Saving Stamps, disposing of $35,335.02 worth. The Suffrage Team composed of the Leaders of Manhattan Borough collected $2,100.00 for the United War Work Drive. A [Suffrage Canteen for soldiers and sailors has been conducted by the 3rd Assembly District Manhattan.] The Knitting Team has supplied the Red Cross with 2,500 knitted garments. Brooklyn Borough has done fine work for the Women's Overseas Hospitals, sending hundreds of packages of bandages, hospital supplies and clothing abroad. During the Red Cross Drive we furnished volunteers for the booths in department stores. Many district organizations sold bonds during the Liberty Loan Drives. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE the Woman Suffrage Party helped to secure the passage through the State Legislature of the bill providing for special days of enrollment for women voters; backed up the Whitney-Tallett Bill to provide public nurses for rural districts, took an active interest in the bill which provided that the members of the Parole Commission be paid and devote their entire time to their duties. POLITICAL COMMITTEE special features of this committee's work ah have been 1. Questionnaires sent out to all local, State, Congressional and Judicial candidates, three fourths of whom answered the questionnaires. 2. The exhibition to hundreds of women of the records of the candidates. 3. The distribution of large quantities of campaign literature. 4. Circularization of 600 ministers, priests and rabbis throughtout the city, asking them to urge from their pulpits the women of their congregations to register and vote. 5. The opening of temporary headquarters in the assembly districts on Nov. 4th and 5th (Election Day) which were used as political information Centers for women voters. 2. Report Of The Woman Suffrage Party Of New York City (Con. For Year 1918. Educational Committee this committee was called the Women Voters' Council and consisted of an advisory board and serveral sub-committees all acting under the direction of Mrs. John Blair. Estimating that there are one million women voters in the city over one half were instructed by the Woman Suffrage Party, as over 500,000 women were reached with political and civic instruction. 550 classes and courses were arranged for by the Counccil, while hundreds of classes were arranged for by the Assembly Districts. Lectures were given to women wage earners in Department stores, banks, factories, laundries, tea rooms, candy shops and places of amusement, the women being taught at their places of business during their business hours through the courtesy of their employers. In addition the Woman Voters' Council distributed 1,556,000 leaflets fliers, primers and lessons in civics; placed 500 placards in office buildings, calling attention to enrollment, registration and election days; held four open forum meetings before the special congressional elections at which women were given an opportunity to see and hear the candidates present their platforms; held a citizenship rally on May 16th at which prominent men from all the parties explained the policies and principles of each party; circularized the business women in office buildings before election by means of a Suffrage Squad and procured the exhibition in hundreds of motion picture houses of slides giving information about Registration Week. 1915 REPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF MANHATTAN, BKLYN, THE BRONX, RICHMOND AND QUEENS. BY MARY GARRETT HAY- CHAIRMAN OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY- While the members of the Women Suffrage Party have been earnestly engaged in manifold activities fpr years, they consider that the real propaganda work on the 1915 Campaign in N.Y. City began January 1st and continued with increasing vigor and volume until it reached a grand climax the week before Election Day. The suffragists believe in preparedness so that they began their work with the holding of many conventions and with luncheons at which Assembly District Leaders of various sections met and conferred. There were 60 district conventions, five Borough Conventions, three Leaders' luncheons, [?] 27 Canvassing Conferences, 11 Canvassing Conferences, and 170 Canvassing Suppers. Four mass meetings and a City Convention followed. At the City convention, the suffragists took stock of what they had on hand and made their plans for the great suffrage fight they were to wage. At this convention it was reported that 2,124 outdoor meetings had been held during the year prior, and 2,941 indoor meetings while there had been a distribution of 751,500 leaflets and the disbursement of a fund of $36.194. This seemed at the time a good record, but within the next few months the Woman Suffrage Party learned that these figures represented merely (2) their kindergarten efforts and that their grown-up activities could reach. colossal proportions. Canvassing- 661.164 voters in the City had to be canvassed- (See other page. marked 2 continued) DIFFERENT CLASSES OF MEN APPEALED TO- Fireman- 240,000 street car men- 95 per cent voters- Street Cleaners- Students Bankers- Brokers in Wall St.* Barbers- Clergymen. Business Men. Days given to these, and to the street car men a week. PARADES- 28 held in all the Boroughs- Suffragists also took part in Weights & Measures Parade, Street Cleaner’s Parade- Made Demonstration at Fireman’s Parade &c. (2 continued) CANVASSING DONE- April and May- 95,277 June and July- 52,821 August & Sept- 122,001 x270,099- 270,099 Mrs. Barker tells me that you have a more accurate report in your “little black book”- In favor ————- 146,892 661,164 registered voters in the city. 212,223 women enrolled in 1915. (3) SCHOOLS FOR WATCHERS AT THE POLLS_ 92 held in all the Boroughs- STREET MEETINGS- 5 000 held not counting the many ones in various Assembly Districts of which no record was kept- 8 A.D's 809 Speakers' Bureau 250 Flyer Meetings 836 Man Bor Autos- 1,189 So. Man Dists- 241 Bklyn 573 Queens 132 Richmond 1 100 Bronx 500 Miscellaneous 370 )))------- 5,000 INDOOR MEETINGS- 600 small indoor meetings- 8 A.D's- 178 Queens 26 Bklyn 218 Bronsx 64 Man Bor- 72 Richmond- 14 Miscellaneous 28 ----- 600 MASS MEETINGS- 93 Mass Meetings- large ones with prominent speakers- Bklyn- 29 Bronx- 228 Richmond- 6 Queens 2 2 Manhattan 10 3 continued- NUMBER OF LEAFLETS SENT TO VOTERS- [* Sample Ballots-*] 5 A.D's 159,450 Queens- 141,499 Richmond- 40,000 Bronx- 50,000 Bklyn- 660,555 [*1,051,504*] Man H'dquarters- 1,146,750 2,198,254 [*1,831,760 1,051,504 2,883,264*] (4) HEADQUARTERS- P.O temporary ones in Districts beside regular ones in Manhattan, Bklyn, and The Bronx. SPEAKERS- During the last two weeks of the Campaign the Manhattan Speakers' Bureau had five hundred speakers listed, Queens had seventy seven, Richmond fourteen, Bklyn fifty, and The Bronx fifty so that a total of 691 speakers was reached. This does not include many volunteer speakers who give their time night after night in various assembly Districts- it tabulates only the speakers sent out from the main offices of the Boroughs. CIRCULARIZATION OF VOTERS- Innumerable letters and telegrams were sent to voters- Richmond sent out 22,720 Queens 6,698 Manhattan 300,000 BKLYN- 485,378 814,796 12000 826,796 (4 continued) Circular letters sent to barbers - 400 """" firemen 800 """" ministers """" bankers all in city 12 (5) Many Assembly Districts leaders report that one or two letters were sent to every voters in many of their Election Districts but it is impossible to make an accurate estimate of what was done in this respect since many individual suffragists went through the lists of their friends and wrote personal letters to them about voting for the suffrage amendment. Prominent Men Interviewed In Manhattan Every political leader was interviewed not once but several times. In Richmond this work was done very thoroughly. Bklyn also covered all its leaders while Queens called on the majority of them. Candidates for office were also made to express themselves on the question of Woman Suffrage and as were also delegates to the Constitution Convention. The work of interviewing ministers was done very efficiently in the Bronx and in the other Boroughs many were called upon. (6) WATCHERS AT THE POLLS- Women watched at the polls on Registration Day and on Election Day. No. of Women who watched. Richmond- 45 (47 polling places) Queens - 121 (181 polling places) The Bronx - 200 (253 polling places) Bklyn - 775 (768 polling places) Manhattan 2,023 Election Districts in the City- POSTERS PLACED- These were placed in stores, house windows, on fences, bill boards &xc Richmond 400 (7) CHURCH WORK- Bronx- addresses in 27 churches- 14 churches addresses by ministers with suffrage sermons Sunday before Election- Queens- 4 churches gave service to suffrage Bklyn- Catholic Committee worked among Catholic clubs belonging to churches- Protestant churches covered by speakers and literature- Manhattan- Splendid work done by Catholic Committee- Literature distributed Sunday before Election- Protestant Churches covered but not so well. Richmond- Suffrage speech before every colored church on Staten Island and before several W.C.T.U. conventions held in churches. Sunday before Election 50 ministers in Manhattan preached suffrage sermons or gave suffrage talks to members of church societies meeting in the church building. [*14+4+5=68] (7) Theaters- On Theater Night 60 theaters in Greater New York donated boxe to suffragists and many permitted suffrage speeches. Boxes were decorated with suffrage colors and s in some places suffrage leaflets and souvenirs were given out in the lobbies. Miners in the Bronx gave Suffrage Week. Keith's also granted us this courtesy. Suffrage slides were displayed in hundreds of moving picture houses in all the Boroughs and about 150 speeches made to moving picture audiences. (8) [*Harkill*] ORIGINAL FEATURES- Bonfires- (All Boroughs) Violet Day- selling of bouquets of violets on streets- (Queens) Stereopticon Slides exhibited in Streets- (Bklyn) (Bronx) Automobile Hikes every Saturday night- (Richmond) Public Market and Navy Yard Demon. (Bklyn) Letters sent from New York to San Francisco thro' Joan Sawyer the dancer- letters to western suffragists asking for help in the campaign. 20 Flying Squadrons of autos- 10 Flying Canvassing Wedges- 10 indoor concerts- 3 big open air concerts with full orchestras in Central Park and Madison Sq. Park. Opera singers- 25 Political Meetings addressed by Congressmen, Constitutional Convention Dels or Assemblymen. Suffrage Booths in 6 Bazaars. 60 original stunts were carried out very successfully- These were quite unlike anything ever done by men in their campaigns. CAMPAIGN VEHICLES– 6 Campaign Vans drawn by horses- 6 decorated autos going out from headquarters 4 district autos– constantly used– MEMBERSHIP OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY REPORT OF THE NEW YORK CITY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. MARCH 1919 to FEBRUARY 1920. by MISS MARY GARRETT HAY- CHAIRMAN- The New York City League of Women Voters began its work for the year 1919 by appointing various committees and assigning to them the many tasks that required study, attention and action. The committees were called the Political, Legislative, Local, Press, Educational and Social. The work they accomplished may be summed up as follows: - POLITICAL WORK- Polling Places- The League asked the various assembly district organizations to make a thorough inspection of the polling places throughout selected sections of the City and to report to their borough organizations as to their size, sanitary fitness, location &c. Hundreds of polling places were thus investigated and through appeals made to the political leaders, desirable changes were made in many polling places. Political Meetings- Fifteen non-partisan, political mass meetings were held in Manhattan and Brooklyn at which candidates of all the parties were featured as speakers. These were highly successful, the public being attracted by the chance to size up all the aspirants for office, and the candidates speaking with enthusiasm in the presence of their rivals. Political Dinners- The introducing of political dinners into the work was the unique feature of the year. Two large political dinners were held April 5th and May 7th, in Manhattan and Brooklyn at the Hotel Majestic and at the Academy of Music. At the first, the 7th, 9th, 11th & 13th assembly districts combined forces to give 400 voters an opportunity to meet their City, State and National representatives, and at the second, 500 men and women were addressed by the Republican and Democratic Chairmen of the Kings County Committees, and politicians heard the subject "Women's Part in Politics" discussed from the standpoint of the woman voter. Questionnaires and Candidates' Records- Questionnaires were sent to candidates for the Assembly and for the Board of Aldermen by the Political Committee. Questions were asked that were of great interest to the women voters. Biographical blanks were also distributed to candidates and facts obtained as to their lives and careers. 85% of the candidates answered the questionnaires and willingly gave points about their records. Political Information Bureau- The original answers to the questionnaires, records and biographies were kept on file at the League headquarters 373 5th Ave, and women voters were invited to consult them. They availed themselves of this privilege freely. Information Leaflets- Forty thousand women in six assembly districts of Manhattan were circularized with information leaflets about candidates. Many letters were received from them expressing gratitude for the help given. This work was praised in the public press. Fliers- 25,000 fliers were sent out by the district organizations before the primaries, and before registration and election urging women to enroll, register and vote. Political Instruction- Numbers of classes were held to instruct women who were to serve on election boards, and many speakers were sent by the League to women's clubs, settlements, branches of the Y.W.C.A. and to working girls' societies to explain registration, voting &c. (2) LEGISLATIVE WORK. Through a Legislative Committee, the League studied various bills before the Legislature and supported : -The Women's Welfare Bills, the Lockwood-Fertig Teachers' Bill, the Dowling Bill for newspaper women, a woman Juror's Bill &c. The League sent resolutions to the National War Labor Board protesting against the unjust treatment of women war workers summarily dismissed from service, and also sent resolutions to the Secretary of War and to Senator Calder to urge the bestowal of honors on women for distinguished war service. The latter was printed in the Congressional Record. The League sent a letter asking the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature to ratify the Federal Suffrage Amendment and thanked him appropriately when this was done. EDUCATIONAL WORK. Forty-five questions of great importance such as the League of Nations, Industrial Re-Adjustment, &c were presented to League members by prominent speakers at Borough Open Forums and Study Clubs in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Richmond. Classes in parliamentary law were also held. The district organizations had many educational courses and lectures beside. Lectures on Congress and Pending Federal Legislation were also given. SOCIAL WORK- A Federal Amendment Luncheon was given at the Hotel Commodore on March 7th- A Get-To-Gether Luncheon was given at the Hotel Astor [Commodore] on Dec 13th at which was launched the slogan for 1920- "Every Woman a Registered Voter." The annual Captains' Party for Manhattan was held at 373 5th Ave- The districts gave many card parties, luncheons, entertainments and sales. LOCAL WORK The League through a Local Committee expressed steady interest in the city government, its problems and its public officials, sending a representative weekly to meetings of the Board of Aldermen, to hearings of all kinds like those on Terminal Markets & and to protest meetings to co-operate with other societies in civic improvement work. Through resolutions sent to the Board of Estimate the League supported the policemen in their demand for higher pay. PRESS WORK- A weekly Bulletin was sent regularly to 1350 officers and leaders of the League- News sent regularly to 85 English & Foreign papers- Leaflet- "Something New in Politics-" printed- 10 special articles written- WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY OF NEW YORK CITY WORK ACCOMPLISHED IN 1918 CONGRESSIONAL Brought the full force of our organization to bear on the passage of the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment. LOCAL Advocated free lunches for school children. Advocated appointment of a woman as Head of the Home Department of Charities. Advocated the retaining of the Bureau of Child Hygiene by the City Administration. POLITICAL Helped pass the bill providing for a Special Enrollment Day for Women. Interviewing of all candidates that were nominated for office in New York City as to their views on various questions effecting the welfare of women and children. The exhibition of these answers and campaign literature of all Political Parties in our City Headquarters. EDUCATIONAL Intensive work among the new women voters, holding lectures in schools, department stores, factories, churches, halls and all places where an opportunity could be obtained to arouse the interest of women in their new citizenship. At least 500,000 were reached by these classes in which an appeal was made to perform their duty of registering and voting, as a patriotic service, not only were they taught the reason for voting, but the process of casting their ballot. The registration proves our work to have been effective, as despite sickness in the City and the intensive campaign for Liberty Bonds over 414,000 women registered and 90% voted. 1,556,000 leaflets were distributed and slides were exhibited in the moving picture houses of the City, urging the women to register. PATRIOTIC SERVICE $36,000 worth of War Savings Stamps were sold. 2,500 knitted garments were made for the Red Cross. Supplies were made for the Women's Oversea Hospitals. Teams organized for the United War Work Campaign and Liberty Loan. Press Bureau- NEWYORK CITY WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARty- 3 East 38th Street- CHIARMAN- MISS MARY GARRETT HAY. AEOLIAN HALL MEETING MAY 16Th, 1918. SPEECH OF MISS MARY GARRETT HAY. The burning question of the hour for the newly enfranchised woman citizen of our city is this- "Shall I enroll in a political party on May 25th?" This meeting is called for the express purpose of helping the new voter to decide that question, to give her an opportunity to hear distinguished representatives of the four dominant parties present the principles and policies of those parties to give her a chance to weigh, consider and contrast those principles that she may pick out a party that she can conscientiously endorse. Personally, I believe in enrollment in a party on account of the opportunities it gives the citizen to take part in important preliminary proceedings. To my mind, it is just as essential to help to nominate good men for office as to vote upon candidates at the general election after they have been nominated, it is just as necessary to have able and honest men and women serve on the committees of the parties as to have the parties pledged to right principles. To enroll in May means to vote at the primary elections in September. It means a chance to nominate for city, county, state and national offices men who will patriotically support the government in these trying times, THE ONLY KIND OF MEN WE AMERICANS WANT IN OFFICE. It means a chance to place on the county and state committees of the parties, citizens of integrity and ability who will make of the party platforms not campaign catchwords but real guides to actions. It means starting the great machinery of our elections right,- not coming in a t the eleventh hour to try and make the wheels revolve in a different direction. If the machinations of self seek politicians are ever to be checked, our citizens must use the primaries. If we want to elevate the parties, we must do it from within not from without, and so we must use the primaries. If we want higher purposes to control, better men to represent us, reforms to prevail, our opinions to have weight,- we must work with the parties and in the parties. I know that there are many persons who believe that women are foolish to scatter their forces by going into the parties, who point out to us that we lose power by doing this. My reply to this is that WE DO NOT WANT POWER BUT THE CHANCE TO SERVE WHERE WE ARE NEEDED. I do not believe in the formation of a woman's political party, I do not believe that men and women should be separated in their work for the state. I think that they have been separated too long. Just as we get better results by having men and women work together in the home, in society, in the church and in the business world, so we will get better results if they work side by side in politics. I do not believe that women in going into the parties will become merely DUPLICATES OF THE MEN VOTERS. I do not believe that they will be submerged, or fall under masculine domination. Some will but the great mass of women will exert a tremendous influence on the parties. Not at first perhaps but in the long run. This is bound to be because the modern woman is becoming more and more of a self reliant, thinking individual. When I say that I think women will have a great influence on the [policies of the] parties, I do not mean that they will have too great an influence, that they will, for instance, hold the majority of the offices. As far as I can see, women are not especially anxious for office and nor do they advocate the putting into office of women just because they are women. Fitness for the position not sex should determine the matter. (2) Men and women working together will wisely solve all the problems that arise from the entrance of woman into the political world. And I hope that the women of this city will not hesitate to join forces with the men. Parties are not entirely made up of politicians, as some people seem to think. Our fathers, husbands, brothers and sons constitute a large part of them and these are the men we want to work with for better conditions. My ideal for the new woman voter is that she will enroll in a party if she endorses its principles, that she will vote in the primaries and at the general election, for voting is a sacred privilege, that she will take into the parties her woman's ideas and ideals and try to work them out being content even with slow progress provided that there is progress; that she will not be a blind adherent of any party or follow party precedents too rigidly, and that she will judge of men and measures not by man's business standards but by those moral and humanitarian standards for which her sex stands. Women voters of New York City! May 25th is a door that will open on great possibilities. I hope that thousands of you will enter that door and help to make the primaries in September memorable for the selection of splendid candidates and the best men and women it is possible to secure to work out the policies of our political parties. NEW YORK CITY WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY MARY GARRET HAY CHAIRMAN. PLAN OF WORK 1918 Presented at the City Convention January 2, 1918 Realizing that citizenship involves responsibility and also mindful of obligation to our sisters of the unenfranchised States, we present for considersation a plan of work for the coming months. 1. Organization: - The organization of the Woman Suffrage Party of the City of New York shall be retained in its present form and shall be the effective medium for the accomplishment of the purposes outlined in this plan. Leaders shall invite women hitherto indifferent to suffrage to share the advantages of Assembly District schools and other opportunities for preparation for the duties of citizenship. To provide for necessary expenses and to broaden the scope of the work; systematic effort shall be made to increase paid membership in every Assembly District. II. Objects: - (a) The passage of the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment and its ratification by our State Legislature. (b) The instruction of the members of the Party in matters of municipal and State government and in points necesssry to make intelligent voters. (c) To insure through the personal effort of our election district captains the largest possible registration of women voters during registry week next October, and to get out a correspondingly large vote on Election Day in November. III. Method: - The work states in this plan shall be done under the direction of the following Central Committees appointed by the Board of Directors as follows: Political (including Congressional and Legislative); Education by Council of Woman Voters, and Municipal or Civic Survey. Work for the Amendment shall be directed by the Congressional Committee, and work for its ratification shall be in charge of the Legislative Committee. The Education Committee or Council of Woman Voters shall make and recommend a general plan of instructtion by lectures and courses of readings, shall furnish lecturers and teachers on request, and shall act in an advisory capacity -2- Schools in citizenship shall be held in each Assembly District, preferably in groups of adjacent election districts. Attention shall be given to women employed in factories and department stores, and arrangements shall be made to afford them opportunity for instruction in civics as may best suit their convenience. The Municipal or Civic Survey Committee shall provide for a subcommittee in each Assembly District which shall gather special information about that district along the following suggested lines; - public schools, number, which are social or recreation centres, which have playgrounds for mothers and babies; hospitals in the district, which have women physicians, dispensaries: comfort stations for women, number, cost of running; Municipal or State institutions in the district ; milk stations ; streets and conditions; police matrons and women probation officers; where woman may be employed advantageously. Treat the Assembly District as a miniature city, its conditions, how its officials perform their duties. Investigate the record of candidates for re-election to office, make inquiry concerning the character of new candidates for office. Report as required to the Central Committee. IV. Before Joining a Party : - In view of the fact that no general election will be held before next November, and primary registration will probably not occur before the end of the summer, it is recommended that the members of the Party do not endorse any principle, party or individual, or commit themselves to political parties or partisan measures until the have had ample time to inform themselves by study of the merits of parties and principles. This recommendation is by way of precaution, so that new voters may choose intelligently the particular party with which they intend to affiliate, and may avoid the danger of entanglements arising from inexperience and lack of information. V. Loyalty and Service: - With the additional dignity and power of full citizenship, we renew our pledge of loyalty and service to the Government in this war crisis, and hold ourselves in readiness to perform any duty required of us. BS&AU-12646 [*Jan 1918*] POINTS ON POLICIES AND PLANS OF N.Y. CITY WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY. by Miss Mary Garrett Hay - Chairman. Getting the vote in New York has meant for the women who got it a great deal of advice as to what to do with it, and among the men who gave it a few little scares here and there as to sexantagonism, a separate woman's party, a policy of political reprisal, etc. We have been told that we must go into parties and we have been told that we must keep out of parties. We have been warned that if we don't let bygones be bygones and vote for our ancient enemies, we will prove ourselves unworthy and we have been reminded by representatives of each and every political party how much that party did for us. All told, I don't see how we can go very wrong, surrounded as we are by advice. Perhaps in the midst of it, a brief presentation of how the New York City Woman Suffrage Party views the new situation and how it is defining its immediate policy, and why, will be both interesting and reassuring. NON-PARTISAN POLICY. The policy of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party is to keep its organization intact in Borough, Assembly District and Election District lines and to remain as a body non-partisan for the present. This means that none of the officers, leaders or captains of the party may ally themselves with the various political parties. As women cannot enroll for the primaries for some time, the only opportunity they have to show their political preferences is to join the political clubs to whose membership they have in many districts been cordially invited by the men. No women may at present run for office with the understanding that the City Party is backing her, for at present the -2- plan is that any woman who thus enters into political life, must do so as an individual and not as an officer of the party. REASONS FOR THE POLICY. The reasons for the adoption of the non-partisan policy are many. The new voters need a period of preparation for their duties. They need opportunity to study the functions of government, the duties of public officials, the conditions of the community in which they live, the policies of the various political parties. They ought to become Republicans or Democrats, Socialists or Prohibitionists, not because their fathers or husbands belong to those parties, but because they have carefully studied what the parties stand for and have deliberately made a choice. Foreign-born women need to become naturalized, to become Americanized, to learn how to use their votes to further the welfare of themselves and of their families. STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS. Members of the N.Y. City Women Suffrage Party in State and National elections will naturally vote as individuals with the various political parties. They will use the facilities which will be offered by the Suffrage Party for obtaining accurate information on the public questions of national scope that they must understand, and the measures and men they must vote upon. THE CITY PARTY MAY EXERT GREAT INFLUENCE IN MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. Members of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party feel that there may arise many questions in municipal politics upon which they may wish to vote in a non-partisan way. For civic improvement, the bettering of the industrial conditions that surround women and children, -3- for improvement in school methods etc. , they expect to stand as a united group and back up the best that is offered, no matter by what party or what candidate. For this reason, the New York City Woman Suffrage Party as a body will be able to exert a great influence, and it is necessary for this reason to keep it going at full organization strength. NOT TO BE A WOMAN'S POLITICAL PARTY. The N.Y. City Woman Suffrage Party will not become a Woman's Political Party nor do suffragists intend to form one. I do not believe that it is desirable to have a Woman's Political Party. Men and women should work side by side for the good of the community. Men and women should be drawn closer together not separated now that women have voting powers. Interest in public affairs will make for a higher companionship, a better comradeship than men in N.Y. City and State have ever known. The testimony comes from the West that woman's enfranchisement has produced this very result. NO SEX WAR IS TO BE EXPECTED. There will never be a sex war such as has been predicted by some sensational souls. It is absurd to think that women as a sex will line up and oppose men as a sex on any question. Men and women are bound together too closely by all kinds of ties for such a situation ever to develop. In N.Y. State where men have just shown justice to women, they can count on woman's loyalty and gratitude. Moreover, good men and women think alike on many questions and will certainly champion them together. A sex war is more apt to be brought on in those places where men are unjust to women, than where they treat them as they ought. N.Y. State then, has nothing to fear of such a character. In N.Y. State I expect to see men and women working together harmoniously in the various parties. -4- MEN AND WOMEN CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. Women have much to learn from men and men may learn something from women. What women have to contribute is a fresh interest, a new viewpoint, the desire to know the whys and wherefores of policies and procedures, economical tendencies which they have learned from having to handle the family budget and a deep humanitarian desire. Men can give women an insight into the business side of life, teach them to be accurate and impersonal and to make compromises when perfection cannot be secured. EDUCATIONAL PLANS. The New York City Woman Suffrage Party is planning a comprehensive series of classes to educate women to become voting citizens. From the day after Election, great numbers of women have called, telephoned and written to the party asking it to undertake their political education. These women from all classes, the working woman and the society woman, the educated and the illiterate, the native born American and the foreign born, have all signified their desire to understand the duties required of them. To my mind, this is very encouraging and indicates that women will put thought into their voting. In the second week of December we shall start our first course in citizenship at our headquarters, 3 East 38th Street. The course will consist of six one hour classes which will be held in the afternoons and in the evenings of [any] specified dates. We expect that beside the general public, the Leaders of the Assembly Districts will attend these classes so that upon their completion, they may start similar classes in their respective districts. In this way we shall soon have a network of classes throughout the City: Schools not only in all the sixty-two Assembly Districts, but grouping the Election Districts together, and thus have more than the sixty-two Assembly District schools. We 5 expect to cooperate with other societies and groups of people who are also starting educational work so that there will be no overlapping of plans. We may publish political primers for the women to use and other useful pamphlets. The lessons offered will be given by experts. They will be simple rather than complicated, practical rather than academic. Women want to know all the little points of procedure more than they do the history of voting. We shall give them history as a foundation, but it will be history condensed as far as possible. We shall give them concrete facts, and the relationship of the individual vote to government functions. Report of POLITICAL COMMITTEE December 9th, 1918. The purpose of this report will be to give as briefly as possible the results of the work done by the Political Committee in so far as it concerns the candidates who were elected on November 5th. The following summary is based on the returns published in the Times of Nov. 6th, which may be subject to correction. Out of a total of 110 elected Congressmen, Senators and Assemblymen in the five Counties, we have replies from 91, leaving 19 who did not reply,- 1 Congressman (Riordan), 5 Senators and 13 Assemblymen. If the Socialist candidates were successful as stated in the Times in the 17th A.D. N.Y. and 23rd A.D. Kings, they must also be included in above figures. We have replies from the Rep. and Dem. candidates in these districts. Mr. Solomon of the 6th A.D. Kings signed and sent in a blank questionnaire, and Mr. Donnelly, of the 13th A.D. Kings, when interviewed, refused to place his name on any paper in answer to any question. Let us now turn to an analysis of the replies from the 91 successful candidates. It is hardly necessary to state that all answered the first question more or less vehemently in the affirmative. #2. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE? WILL YOU SUPPORT THE FEDERAL SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT IN ITS PASSAGE THROUGH CONGRESS AND ITS RATIFICATION BY THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE? We find in the answers an equal unanimity of sentiment. Mr. Ellenbogen of the 7th A.D. N. Y. , who distinguished himself by saying "Not exactly, but I am resigned to it" was defeated by Mary A. Lilly. Mr. L. M. Black, 6th Senatorial, replies "Yes, but I am opposed to picketing to the annoyance of the President." Mr. Burlingame, 8th Senatorial, "On three occasions in the Senate I have voted for the referendum. I am somewhat disappointed because all women did not enroll in the best party." C.E. Russell, 9th Senatorial, and J. S. Tomey, 10th Senatorial, replied YES to first clause and left second clause blank. #3. DO YOU FAVOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROHIBITION AMENDMENT? YES comes but from six of the Senators and Assemblymen elect, two Rep., 3 Dem., 1 Fusion. The balance are in favor of a referendum; a few say NO or leave the question unanswered. #4. DO YOU FAVOR EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK FOR MEN AND WOMEN? Apparently all are in favor of this measure as all answer YES, except T. S. Smith, 16th Congressional, who leaves it blank. #5. ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF LEGISLATION AGAINST ALL PROFITEERING? F. La Guardia, Fusion, lately returned from military service overseas and reelected to Congress, says, "See my bill providing death punishment for profiteers." Mr. Burlingame, 8th Senatorial, says, "I favor legislation against profiteering in a bad sense, YES." Mr. Carrol, 11th Senatorial, and Mr. Lentol, 14th A.D. Kings, leave question blank. Wm. C. Dodge, 20th Senatorial, "YES, and if possible there should be a criminal prosecution." Political Com. - report - #2. #6. Do you favor the creation by law of a Wage Commission which shall fix in different industries and localities the least upon which girls and women can live in decency and health? ALL replied YES #7. Do you stand by the maintenance of our present labor laws? T. F. Smith, 16th Congressional, left it blank. C. D. Donohue, 5th A. D. N.Y., wants improvement; Wm. W. Pellet, 10th A.D. N.Y., will give more study to the problem; E. J. Flynn, 2nd A.D. Bronx, believes in it as a war measure; Mr. Cox, 2nd A. D. Kings, says there is room for improvement. The balance of the replies indicate YES to this question. Due appreciation should be accorded to the members of the committee who worked during a long period and up to the last moment in order to obtain a reply from each and every candidate. This entailed innumerable letters, telephones and often many calls before the object was achieved, and called for patience and tact on the part of the interviewer. And may I not express a word of thanks to those with whom it was my pleasure to work at Headquarters,- Miss Rosina Flanly who acted as Secretary and made out unending lists and schedules in her usual efficient manner;- Mrs. McCutcheon who presided over the clipping department; - Mrs. Valet, who could always be depended upon when most needed to serve in any capacity; - Miss Doughty, who arranged a method of keeping a record obtained from all sources possible of the political past present and future of each candidate, which was found very valuable on and before election day in the distribution of information. The bulletin issued just after election has told you of the demands made upon us for assistance by women before and on that day. The number who telephoned in or called for information gave the best evidence of the great need of continuing and enlarging the scope of this department. Many women were absolutely ignorant of the first political step to be taken, while others came in armed with the sample ballot furnished by their party, asking for the last word in regard to the candidates name thereon. Some women stated that they depended upon us for help as on account of close application to war work, nursing, etc., they had not had time to study up the political questions involved in the campaign; and again some came to us with perplexing problems. I recall in particular one very intelligent colored woman who had been permitted to register in the wrong booth, and in her indignation and distress came to the "Woman's Party" as she termed it, to help her out. We called up the Board of Elections but upon investigation found we could do nothing but sympathize in her great disappointment and impress upon her the necessity of giving her address more distinctly in future when registering. The little I have done in connection with this committee has been ample repaid by the pleasure derived from working in cooperation with the other members of the committee and from the political knowledge obtained thru performing the duties of chairmanship. Respectfully submitted, [*adelaide m Balch*] [*1917-Campaign*] MEETINGS:- Manhattan.....919 Bronx .............212 Brooklyn ........668 Queens ..........198 (?) Richmond ........70 TOTAL....2,085 CITY ................. 18 LITERATURE:- Manhattan.....1,812,500 Bronx............. 275,000 Brooklyn ........2,154,384 Queens .......... 590,000 Richmond ...... 65,000 City ................ 300,000 TOTAL...5,196,884 ENROLLMENTS WOMEN Manhattan...... 205,707 Bronx.............. 37,115 Brooklyn ......... 225,505 Queens ........... 35,528 Richmond ....... 10,700 TOTAL 514,555 - SCHOOLS:- Watcher's schools , in all Boroughs Training schools for workers in all Boroughs CIRCULARIZATION: All churches Business Men 75% of election districts VOTE:- BOROUGH Registered Total Majority Total Vote Total Against Vote for Suf- for Suf. MANHATTAN 254,428 36,204 121,328 85,124 [*206,452*] BRONX 99,462 14,850 50,263 35,413 [*85,676*] BROOKLYN 254,745 32,640 122,429 32,640 [*155,069*] QUEENS 70,343 6,522 32,482 25,960 [*58,442*] RICHMOND 16,317 2,510 7,550 5,040 [*12,590*] ___________________________________________________________________ 695,295 92,726 334,052 184,177 PRESS:- Daily Papers......153 Foreign.............. 75 Special Articles. 198 Columns printed [*518,229 Total Vote*] aside from spec- ial articles........... 200 Woman Suffrage Party Of New York City 3 East 38th Street Annual Address Of Miss Mary Garrett Hay - Chairman City Convention January 2nd, 1918. It is with quite a different spirit from that of the past that we gather together, in this our annual convention. The old tension that is always felt by those engaged in a great struggle is gone, the old feeling of "hope deferred" is no longer with us. This convention is different from any other because we are victors meeting to plan how we shall use our conquest, because we are workers who have won the tools with which we can do constructive things for the good of the City and the State. And before I tell you what we shall do, let me thank you for what you have done. From all sides come eulogies upon the splendid work done by members of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party during the recent campaign. Men and women both bear testimony to your devotion, to your steadyapplication, to your self-sacrificing labors. More than anyone else, I, who know you, appreciate your efforts. I know that you do not want my thanks since you yourselves are thankful for what the struggle gave you of strength, of a sense of uplift, and now of the gratification of those who have fought a worth-while fight. No women who have not worked for suffrage can appreciate and value it as you do. I thank you, you women soldiers of democracy, the army that won the victory. The result obtained by our united efforts is due to our strong organization. Organization won the victory for us. This is the message we must send to the women of other States. The great lesson we have learned and may use as voters is that an earnest union of many hearts, minds and hands is an invincible power. Emerson says: "concentration is the secret of strength." We proved it in our organization work. -2- We won because the men of all parties conferred the franchise upon us not only ungrudgingly but royally. We are thankful that this is so and that no one party, but men of every political party, of every religious belief, of every class of society, were true to the principles of democracy, and had faith in the good sense and intelligence of women. For all this, we are grateful to all the political parties and when as individuals we later take up our affiliations with them, we hope to show our gratitude by standing for the best that each party has to offer. One of the most gratifying things we have to remember is the generous soldier vote cast for our cause. The total soldier vote in New York City was 26,211. Of this 8,858 votes were cast against the Suffrage Amendment and 17,353 were cast in favor of the Amendment, making a majority for suffrage of 8,495. This makes almost a two to one vote for the Amendment. The National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage have said in a printed leaflet circulated among Congressman in Washington, "woman suffrage was carried in New York City by pro-Germans, pacifists and Socialists." This leaflet was printed before the soldier vote was taken. The almost two to one proportion of the soldier vote for suffrage answers the anti assertions. The suffrage women, yes, all American women of this City are standing with the Government and for "our boys" who are to uphold our democratic ideals before the whole world. The soldiers realize this and cast their votes to help the women to work and vote for Democracy at home while the men are fighting for it abroad. As a result of what our friends have done for us politically, we have today in the City of New York, approximately 700,000 women voters, a great group of human beings, who must be informed politically and directed toward the side of good government. What our voting sisters of the West have done with the ballot justifies us in the belief that the woman vote will make for the civic betterment of the city in the (3) future. We cannot expect a change at once, nor do we believe that women will bring the millennium. We do believe that steadily and surely women will lift politics in our City to a higher plane. Our joy in the new addition to the electorate is tempered and sobered by a sense of responsibility. It is the suffragists of this City who secured the franchise for women. It is the suffragists of the City who must take the lead in helping women to exercise wisely the power they have gained. Let us now throw ourselves into the Educational Campaign we have started with as much enthusiasm, earnestness and faith as we have put into the two suffrage campaigns of the past. Our ideal is to rouse a civic conscience in each woman voter, to make her feel a personal responsibility for conditions in her own District, in her City and to train her in the practical procedure necessary to make improvements or effect changes. We must keep our organization intact and strengthen it in order to make our influence felt throughout the entire city. We must reach the women in the Assembly Districts through our District Leaders and Captains. We must offer free instruction to the women of the Districts so that all may be thoroughly familiar with American institutions, with the functions of our government, with the platforms and the principles of the various parties. We must show every woman in the district how she can work for pure food, better market facilities, better schools, safer streets, sanitary conditions in factories, more playgrounds,-for all the things in which she is interested, -in this way bring politics into her daily living. We must use our organization for the purpose of getting the women out to register in October and to vote next November. We must be -4- sure that the ballot is generally used by women, that all realize that it is a sacred duty to vote. We must do this so that the women of New York City who will be watched by the whole country will make a creditable showing, in this respect. Our captains in each Election District can learn to know the women voters and exert an influence on them that will be beneficial. The only way in which we can hold the confidence of the women voters of all parties is to remain as an organization, non-partisan and to make certain that no one of our officers violates this principle. This means that they will not join the political clubs which is the only way they can show their party preferences at the present time. This prohibition affects only our major and minor officers and does not apply to our members. We do not intend to try and watch the 514,555 women who are enrolled with us as this would be too colossal a task. This does not mean that the New York City Woman Suffrage Party aspires to be a woman's political party, or to control the woman vote of the City. It has no such intention. It will hold together as long as it has specific work to do and it will remain non-partisan as long as it is necessary to help women prepare for entrance into the existing political parties. The aim of the City Suffrage Party now is to help solve problems impartially for women Democrats, Republicans, Socialists and Prohibitionists. Special legislation will be passed to permit the new women voters to enroll in the primaries, in order to take part in the party nomination of candidates. It should be our duty then to see that the women enroll in the primaries, in the party of their choice. It should be the duty of every good citizen, man and woman to take part in the primary nominations, and thus nominate good men and women for office. Therefore it is the business of the City Suffrage -5- Party, not only to urge women to thoroughly study what the political parties stand for, to become familiar with the characters, records and platforms of the candidates, but also to make them realize the importance of attending the political primaries in the interest of obtaining honest and able candidates. We must teach women to recognize a bribe when it is offered. There are so many subtle ways of exerting political pressure on a voter that many new and unsophisticated voters may not realize until it is too late that their votes have been cleverly manipulated to the advantage of the manipulator. Let us spread practical information that will warn women against such practices. Let us change the old adage "Every man has his price" into "Every woman has her principles." But we have to do more fundamental work even than this. For in New York City we have the problem of 200,000 foreign born women who have become citizens because their husbands have become naturalized or are citizens. Those who have lived here five years can vote, this being one of the requirements of the law. Among these woman we shall find many who cannot speak English, many who are illiterate. We must look upon these as our political children, who need not the High School and College Courses in Civics and Politics that we give others, but the politics of the Primary School. This will be the most inspiring part of our work. To help such women to learn to speak our language, to teach them about our American institutions, to instill in them reverence for our democratic ideals and love for our country, what can be more worthy of our best intelligence and efforts? This will be the most helpful work for us. For while we are giving to them of our ideas, we shall gain from them valuable knowledge of the customs which they have brought from other countries. -6- Many writers have called women "the practical sex". I hope that when we act as voters, we shall live up to this name. The City Suffrage Party through its Civic Survey Committee is going to help us all to have a good idea of the actual conditions, political and social, that surround us in our various Assembly Districts. It is not enough to know about party platforms, about our candidates, we must also know what things need changing, what need our continued support, how officials and parties work out in practical fashion the theories they advocate. David Starr Jordan has always said that men have the long range of vision, and women the short, that men are more interested in natural and international matters than in local affairs, while women take more interest in what goes on in their backyards, streets, districts and city. For this reason, women may supplement men and make our government which is strong nationally and weak municipally, strong at every point. The Civic Survey Committee will help us to perfect our "short range of vision," so that we shall see clearly and intelligently just what the conditions are that affect our lives and homes. Thus we can see from this brief summing up that we have a full program to carry out as members of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party. When an army captures a city or a country, it does not rest idle. It makes new laws, and institutions, through new labors and activities, it gets a strong hold on the region of which it has taken possession. We have won a land called Political Emancipation. Now we must work harder than ever before to be worthy of its occupancy. Does this make some of you who have toiled for years sigh? Phillips Brooks has said: "Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men, do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks." -7- As suffragists, for years struggling against great odds, planning, working, sacrificing hoping and aspiring, we have been trained as few women have to render service in a public way. Let none of us dare to rest convent with what we have done. We are like athletes who have practised and grown strong. We have come now to the great Test, to the great Tournament. Having pursued political responsibility, we must now shoulder it in heroic fashion. In the old days when I have asked you to undertake tasks almost as great as the ones that now confront you, I have said, "Will you do it?" and like a mighty shout your answer has always come back "We will." And so to-night, I know that although your lips are silent, you are ready, Every heart beats in unison, every mind is eager to plan and to execute. In the name of the New York City Woman Suffrage Party, we shall press forward and help to make the voting citizenship of the women of this City, something of which our State and Country can well be proud. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.