NAWSA Subject File Rhode Island Suffrage Assocs. WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE SECTION OF THE WOMEN'S CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON NATIONALITY CREATED BY THE JANUARY 1931 COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Hôtel de Russie - Geneva Switzerland. For Immediate Release. January 28, 1932. The Women's International League section of the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality today led a delegation of approximately fifty women who have been active in work for peace, to M.Zulueta, the Spanish Member of the Council, who introduced in the Council on Tuesday a report concerning the closer co-operation of women with the League in its work for peace. The delegation thanked M. Zulueta for his report and then asked him to supplement the report with action during this session of the Council in support of a resolution which, if adopted by the Council, would give improved status to the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality, a project in which peace workers are deeply concerned. The memorandum left with M. Zulueta was as follows : - His Excellency, Monsieur Zulueta, Member of Council of League of Nations. Excellency: This is a Committee of women workers for disarmament. It has been organised by representatives of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom who are on the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality created by the 1931 Council of the League of Nations. We first wish to thank you for your report on the collaboration of women in the work of the League for peace. We wish, however, to say, that we hope that this report does not represent all that the Council proposes to offer as a programme for increasing the collaboration of women in the work of the League in the field of peace. If this is to be all, we are afraid that women all over the world will be disheartened about the possibility of any effective cooperation on the part of women with the League in this field. We most earnestly lay before you the attached resolution and ask you to recommend its adoption by the Council at its present session. This resolution, if adopted by the Council, would give increased dignity and recognition to the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality which was created by the Council of the League last January. The creation of this Committee represents the only effort which the League has ever made to give recognition to the views of women in a matter that vitally affects their status. If the Council would adopt our proposed resolution it would be one pratical way to increase the collaboration of women with the League in the field of peace and in all other fields. Only by giving more recognition to women in the work of the League, can the League hope to secure more enthusiastic co-operation from women. (Signed) Lola Maverick Lloyd Chairman of the Committee M. Zulueta said that he would consider the memorandum and emphasized to the members of the deputation his strong interest in the movement for equal rights for women. He read to the members of the deputation various extracts from the new Spanish Constitution showing the advanced position taken by the new Spanish Republic with regard to the position of women. -2- The deputation was led by Mrs. Lola Maverick Lloyd of Chicago, U.S.A., a prominent member of the United States section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Other speakers were Mme Mathilde Rolli, Geneva, President of the Geneva branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Mme. Eugenie Meller, of Budapest, Consultative member of the International Executive Committee of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Mrs. Meller and Mrs. Lloyd represent the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom on the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality. Mrs. John Jay White, New York, Chairman of the New York state branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and a member of the National Board of the U.S.A. section was one of the participants in the deputation. SUGGESTED RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION BY COUNCIL OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS which was today laid before M. Zulueta by a delegation of peace workers. The delegation was organized by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom section of the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality. WHEREAS the Assembly has requested the Council to examine the possibility of increasing the collaboration of women in the work of the League of Nations in the field of peace and in other fields, WHEREAS one of the essential bases for securing the collaboration of women is to give increased recognition to women in the work of the League, and WHEREAS there already exists under the auspices of the League a Women's Consultative Committee charged with advising the League on the subject of the nationality of women in relation to the codification of international law; THE COUNCIL resolves, as one step toward carrying out the above recommendation of the Assembly, to broaden the scope of the Women's Consultative Committee on Nationality so as to enable the Committee to deal with all matters in the field of the codification of international law that bear upon the status of women; THE COUNCIL also decides to make this Women's Consultative Committee, as now constituted and organised, an official committee of the League of Nations, with all the attributes belonging to other official committees of the League. The Woman Citizen “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. * * * *” -Constitution of the United States. “Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness.” -Constitution of Rhode Island. Vol. VIII. Rhode Island, May, 1912. No. 1. The Women Citizen advocates woman suffrage as a matter of self-respect. To be a citizen of the United States and of the state in which they reside, to be taxed equally with men for the support of the government, yet to have no voice in the administration of that government, is a degrading and an unendurable condition. We demand and beg for justice. The Great Procession New York has done itself proud. Fifteen thousand women marching for suffrage with, at least, one hundred and fifty thousand looking on is a wonderful sight. President Shaw is right. “We are catching up with China.” Brain Not Brawn Brain, not brawn, rules the world. War settles one question only. It proves which side had most physical force. Even this point can sometimes be determined only by many battles extending over years of time. When peace is declared it is likely to be permanent if the predominance of physical force has been on the side of justice. If the predominance of physical force has been on the side of injustice the struggle is likely to be renewed many times because, “No question is ever settled until it is settled right.” Women suffer much from war though they share neither its struggle nor its honors. They are haunted by anxiety and are worn by increased care. Marriage is made impossible for some women every time a soldier falls. Thousands of women in every state in the union faced this condition at the close of our civil war. The governor of Massachusetts called attention in a message to the fact that there were forty thousand anxious, aimless women in the state. When asked what he meant he said that he referred to the women of the state who could never marry because their prospective husbands had been killed or had died in military service. Needless to say these women neither asked nor received pensions. They entered the ranks of industry as women had not done before and have held their ground there since. Crime increased greatly after the civil war. War cheapens the value of human life and denies to many children the guidance and care of their fathers. No pension can take the place of a good father’s love. The world is growing wiser. Many questions that ten years ago would have been cause for war are now settled by arbitration. Brain not Brawn rules the world. “Votes for Women.” (A Sermon by Rev. Marion Law.) The sermon was the third in the series on the general topic, “The Coming Social Reconstruction.” The speaker took for his text: Kings, vi. 26, “As the King was passing there cried a woman unto him saying help.” “The words of my text tell of a woman crying for help,” he declared in opening. “I have chosen it because the present movement for votes for women is, I believe, chiefly a cry for help— they want help, and want to help change social conditions that they may save their children, their sons, and daughters, from those conditions which ruin and destroy. “Two startling things happened recently on opposite sides of the world,” he continued. “China, the most ancient of nations, became a republic, and, astounding fact, gave the ballot to women. The other startling thing, he said, was the suffragette demonstration in London a few weeks ago, which he described graphically. “Why did these women act so?” he asked. “What did they want? They wanted and want to vote, and this was their way of making the world take notice.” Shaken in Opposition Continuing, he said he was shaken in his opposition to votes for women because of those who were the bitterest enemies of the movement, for, he said “If it is a fact 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN May, 1912 that you can pretty accurately judge a person by his friends and associates, it is also quite as true that you can form as accurate an estimate of a man by his enemies." He paid a tribute to the late Grover Cleveland, "one of the most maligned and misrepresented men, while he lived, in American public life, of whom it was said, 'We love him for the enemies he has made,' one of the finest and most pithy utterances." he declared, "that ever fell from human lips." Continuing, he said: "Now if it is true that men and measures may be judged or estimated both by their friends and their enemies, then let us measure the votes-for-women movement by this standard. Who are the chief enemies of votes for women--who fights them with a ferocity that shows the fighter realizes he is fighting for his life? "There are three chief foes of the votes-for-women movement--rum, rotten politics, and the red lights, or white slavery, the most vicious foes of all decency in modern society; they are all of a kind; they belong together; they have the same kind of morals, or lack of them; their business is to prey upon the decent elements of society and just because these most vicious elements in human society hate the votes-for-women movement it begins to appear to me that all decent people should respect that movement, and, perhaps, support it. We respect them for the enemies they have made." As to why these elements fear and hate the movement for woman suffrage the speaker pointed out that it was well known that decent women, and they were in the majority in the community, were the deadly foes of the saloon, of vice, and therefore of the corrupt politician, who, he said, was always the intimate friend of both, "because he keeps his power and makes his graft from both." Normal Status of Seattle. As to the power for good in a community, where women are permitted to take part in public affairs, with the right of suffrage, the speaker told of the reconstruction of the moral status of the city of Seattle, and of the fight waged between the forces of decency and the wide open town, which, he said, was won finally by the votes of the women, after one of the most exciting campaigns ever held in an American city. "We love them for the enemies they made. We respect them for cleaning up one city for whipping the forces of rum, rotten politics and the red light; they did it in one city, can they do it in others? They say they can and will, if they are given the vote. "So I say," he continued, "the question of votes for women has gone beyond the stage of ridicule. It has become a serious question. The men, in American cities at least, have seemed to make an ignominious failure of clean and decent city government. The shame of the mismanagement and graft in most American cities is the shame of the nation, of the race. Men, I repeat, have thus far failed ignominiously in giving government to the great majority of American cities. Can the women help? They say they can, and , pointing to Seattle, say: 'See what we can do.' By their fruits ye shall know them." "So I say, 'I'm shaken in my opposition to suffrage, yet, a doubt lingers. Perhaps it is prejudice, but I am at present only shaken, not convinced of the wisdom of votes for women, and among other reasons for this, ultimately comes the power of majority rule. Does it not rest ultimately upon force? Once men settled all questions by force. Then came the rule by majority, because it was recognized that counting heads was wiser than breaking heads, and not so unpleasant. As a general thing the majority could rule by force if need be. Therefore men came to the time when they said: "Let the majority rule without force being used, for if used they would, probably ; rule anyway." Now that is a crude and perhaps fatal way of putting it, but is it not true? Is not the rule of the majority the rule of the potential physical force? Does there not stand behind the voter the possible soldier, fighting to enforce his vote or that of majority rule. In other words, is not the power to bear arms the ultimate fact behind the ballot? It seems to me it is. I have seen women's answers given to this argument but none so far convincing to me. Some women say, "Very well, we'll bear arms and fight, if need be, if that's all that stands between us and our right to vote." But that's impracticable and impossible, and repugnant to all our ideas of civilization and progress. True, time has been in the world when women have been soldiers and fought, but we would not think seriously of returning to such conditions. It is perhaps a humiliating confession that possible brute force stands behind the ballot, that the power to bear arms is the ultimate foundation of the right to voted, but it seems to me to be the fact and the fact may as well be acknowledged if it is true. But it may be said, "Does might make May, 1912. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 right?" Might does not make right, but right makes might in the long run. The might of the majority is sure to be right in the end. Men may be deceived and mislead in their votes for a time, but only for a time. The majority of men unless they have reached the front in civilization, unless they use the ballot in their own government, can always be depended on, I believe, to vote for the right in the long run. They may for a time be deceived and mislead as to what is the right but they will quickly find it out. As Lincoln said, "You may fool all the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time. Because I think that true and think that the large majority of men believe in the right I believe that majority votes by men are not a case of might making right, but of might usually being in the right always, when the majority understand that right. "So I say, thus shaken in my opposition to votes for women I am not convinced. But this great fact is in their favor. The kind of enemies they have, the liquor interest, corrupt politicians and the vice or red light interests are the deadly foes to human society. They would destroy everything good and pure and decent in our American life. Whatever these three vicious elements oppose must, it seems to me, be good. They oppose votes for women, therefore it begins to look as if the votes for women is what human society needs, at least the suffragists are to be congratulated on their opposition." In conclusion he predicted that votes for women would come, whether permanently or not, quoting Jane Adams of Hull House, Chicago, as favoring the movement, and said: "If the movement goes on unchecked it is only a question of time, and not a very long time at that. But whatever be the final outcome, this is to be said for them, they are fortunate in their enemies. The saloon, the corrupt politician and the vicious element, the three deadliest foes of human society, are against them. If they would conquer these they would do more for human society than words can ever tell. Because of the opposition of these three deadly foes of humanity I respect the movement, and should the question ever arise where my vote counted, I think I would vote to give them the opportunity. If they want the ballot, let them have the chance to show what they would do in helping us to attain a better, cleaner, higher civilization--a civilization where honesty, decency and righteousness would prevail more than they do now; a civilization nearer Christ's ideals than the one we have at present." Explanation and Apology. The November number of the Woman Citizen duly appeared but no other number of the paper has since been issued. The cause of this defection was due entirely to the discouraement of the editor upon whom most of the work and the expense fell. At the time mentioned that splendid weekly paper, "The Woman's Journal," which has been published continuously since 1870, became a national paper and its price was reduced to one dollar a year. Great inducements were given by this national paper to increase its circulation and the Women Citizen had a good bargain offered her as well, but the zeal of the suffragists of Providence to get subscriptions to the Journal seemed to put the small paper out of sight and made it useless. The editor of the Woman Citizen turned her attention to organization and the result is a new society named "The Woman Citizen's Equal Suffrage League." This new league now needs the paper to hold it together and the little sheet is now appearing and seeks the favor of its readers. The paper starts again with hope of doing good work, particularly among our new recruits. Most of the members of the new society are women and men who have never before been connected with work for woman suffrage, have never attended a suffrage meeting, or subscribed for a suffrage paper. Hoping that old subscribers will forgive the editor her neglect of them, this editor promises to do her best. The paper will continue through the vacation this year in lieu of numbers lost since the last issue. The paper is due to appear on the third week of each month. In case the month begins on Wednesday or earlier this time will be regarded as a week. This plan was suggested by our contributing editor, Mrs. Reynolds. It keeps our paper out of competition with the large number of magazines that appear earlier. The June number will give an account of the political situation in this state as it relates to the woman suffrage and recommend action. What The Men Admire. Women can only get the ballot by the votes of men. Therefore wise suffragists will try to please the men. Do the things that men admire, the things that men think you will not dare to do, if you wish to win their votes. The British women have helped the world more by their militant methods than The Woman Citizen May, 1912 --------------------------------- we can tell. They roused the Chinese women to fighting with weapons and afterward to breaking glass. The Chinese women fought so well that their male protectors succumed at once. (Note the time and the labor saved.) The work of the British suffragettes has advanced suffrage in the United States more than years of argument could have done. Let us go ahead. Keep up the racket, girls. Men like it. Men are largely governed by their emotions, rather than by reason. President Yates made a chic argument for lower steps on street cars. We think she hit the nail on the head. In case, however, that she did not we must this year descend from those cars in good style, no backing down and out, even if we have to hire Miss Peck to teach us how to do it. Mrs. Parkhurst has been out on bail for several weeks. She is preparing her defense for her coming trial upon the charge of conspiracy. The police have not as yet been able to find Christabel. The boys guy the police by whistling or calling, "Have you seen my Christie pass this way?" The imprisonment of the English suffragette is likely to lead to prison reform. ----------------------------- WOMEN CONTROL U.S. Equal Suffrage States May Elect Next President --- Cast 37 Electoral Votes. Washington.--- Women's votes may elect the next President of the United States, through the control of the majority vote in the electoral college by States now having equal suffrage, is the belief of Dr. William Tindall, a long-time friend of Susan B. Anthony and vice-president of the District of Columbia Equal Suffrage Association. In the next electoral college the women suffrage States will control thirty-seven votes. According to Doctor Tindall's figures, six Presidents have been elected to office by a smaller majority of electoral votes than are cast by woman suffrage States. Besides the thirty-seven votes already controlled by the woman suffrage States, three States will vote on the question previous to the presidential election. The Legislatures of Kansas and Wisconsin have passed acts submitting the question to a vote of the people, and in Oregon the necessary petition has been filed for a vote on the question. If these States should vote in favor of woman suffrage, twenty-seven votes will be added in the electoral college as follows: Kansas, 10; Wisconsin, 12, and Oregon 5--- a total of 64 votes in the college of 521 electors. Referring to the date which he has gathered relative to the subject, Doctor Tindall said: "In 1796 John Adams defeated Thomas Jefferson by three votes. In 1800 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each received 173 votes. The choice then devolved upon the House, where Jefferson received the vote of ten States, Burr four, and two votes were blank. "In 1824 none of the candidates for President received enough electoral votes to elect, and the choice again devolved upon the House. John Quincy Adams was chosen by the vote of thirteen States Andrew Jackson received the votes of seven States, and W.H. Crawford the votes of four States. "In the election of 1848 Zachary Taylor defeated Lewis Cass by just thirty-six votes. Rutheford B. Hayes defeated Samuel L. Tilden, in 1876, by one vote, and in 1884 Grover Cleveland defeated James G. Blaine by thirty-seven." ------------------------------- Let us rejoice that our veteran worker of the sixties, and earlier, the Rev. Olympier Brown, is still a great force. She is now campaigning in Ohio. Truly, woman suffrage keeps its advocates youthful. Rhode Island has sent Mrs. Von Klenza and Miss Louise Hall to Ohio to help in campaign work. Mrs. Sara M. Algio is now president of the College League in place of Mrs. Von Klenza. Mrs Algeo is one of our stars. --------------------------- THE WOMAN CITIZEN Published monthly. October to May, inclusive. Editor, Jeanette S. French. Contributing Editor, Mrs. Lena Morris Reynolds. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Tel. Pawt. 1156-L ----------------------- Chronicle Printing Co. Pawtucket, R.I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-L Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN ---------------------- "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the priviliges or immunities of citizens of the United States. ****" - Constitution of the United States "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." - Constitution of Rhode Island ---------------------- Vl. VII Rhode Island, Oct., 1911. No. 6. ---------------------- STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. STATE HOUSE. "Hope" is the Motto of Rhode Island. In education and good laws is the hope of Rhode Island Women. ---------------------------- THE WOMAN CITIZEN Published monthly. October to May, inclusive. Editor, Jeanette S. French. Contributing Editor, Mrs. Lena Morris Reynolds. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Tel. Pawt. 1156-L ---------------------- We have six stars on our suffrage flag now representing our six free States, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, and California, and four other States soon to vote upon the question. Be sure to read the advertisement of our agricultural college. ---------------------- The Ballot Song of Women. The following verses won the one hundred dollar prize offered by Mrs. Penfield of New York city, but the writer, Mrs. Minetta Thedora Tailor, died before the prize was awarded. We are walking where the heroes all have trod, A weary way where we can only plod; But we're talking in the space Where the martyrs took their place, And our mighty shout is risen to our God. Ye Powers of Evil, earth is not our own! Women helping, you shall be o'erthrown. And a better life shall rise Than has gladdened human eyes, And true peace shall blend the nations into one. We the people! All the people! How it rings! Justice broad and free, the living heart of things! --------------------- A Civic Mind; A Civic Heart. During our vacation Samuel Johnson, ex-Mayor of Cleveland, passed away. When he was dying his appreciative friend, Edmund Vance Cooke, added an opening stanza to a poem he had previously written and entitled the whole "A Man is Passing." The poem was published in "The Public" of Chicago and attracted much attention. Two noteworthy couplets express what the poet believed had been accomplished by Mr. Johnson: "He found us striving each his selfish part, He left a city with a civic heart." Again: "he found us dollar bound and party blind, He left a city with a civic mind." On reading these lines we are impressed by their beauty and their usefulness. A catchy phrase to express a needed mental attitude is valuable. Our next thought is, Mr. Johnson 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN Oct., 1911. chose a good subject for his object lesson. To lower car fares appeal to the pocket of every one. Yes, but it was the position taken by the teacher that held the attention. It was his civic mind,, his civic heart that made him turn from further accumulation of property, made him forget his own pocket and find ere long that five-sixths of his accumulated wealth had vanished, that aroused the civic thought and the civic interest in the welfare of others. All around us are as good object lessons as three- cent fares. The club woman who initiated the pure food law and made many see that law controlled health aroused in others the civic mind. The suffragette who suffers in a British prison to prove that women are in earnest arouses thousands to a civic mind. The White Slave Trade would rouse any human being who had a heart, to civic sense. All these teachings require sacrifice and we can rejoice that Mr. Johnson was one of many who gave himself for others and that the poet, too, did his part. Constitution of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association. As altered for the annual meeting, 1907. To be brought before the association at the adjourned meeting, March 6, 1908. ARTICLE I. Name. The name of this corporation shall be The Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association. ARTICLE II. Object. Its object shall be to secure for women their legal and political rights by appropriate legislation, constitional amendments, and education of women in the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. ARTICLE III. Membership. Section 1. Any person accepted by vote of the Executive Committee may become a member of this Association on payment of the membership fee of $1.00 (one dollar). Section 2. Any member may become a life member by the payment of $25.00 (twenty-five dollars) and be exempt from the annual tax. All other members shall pay into the Treasury an annual tax of $1.00 (one dollar) for each succeding year. Section 3. All dues shall be payable on the day of the annual meeting of this Association. Persons admitted in April or any month thereafter prior to the annual meeting shall not be required to pay dues the following year. Members whose dues are unpaid on October first shall lose their vote at the annual meeting of that year. Section 4. Each member shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Association, take part in all its discussions, receive copies of all reports published by the society, and have one vote on all questions. Section 5. No distinction in membership or eligibility to office shall ever be made in this Association on account of sex. ARTICLE IV. Officers. Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, three Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, two Auditors, and the Chairman of the Executive Committee. Section 2. The officers shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting. They shall be elected for a term of one year and shall hold office until the election of the successors. The several officers shall perform such duties as are usual in similar bodies. Section 3. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers hereinbefore named: The President and one additional member of each auxiliary local society, to be chosen by the local society: the Chairman of each Standing Committee of the Association. Section 4. The Chairman of each Standing Committee of the Association shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting on recommendation of the Committee on Nomination of Officers, and shall hold office for one year or until a successor is elected. ARTICLE V. Auxiliaries. Section 1. Any Woman Suffrage League or Society in Rhode Island may become auxiliary to this Association by endorsing the Constitution of the Association and paying annually into its treasury the sum of 25 cents for each member of such society. Section 2. The President and Secretary of each auxiliary league or society ; one delegate at large ; one delegate for every 10 paid-up members and majority fraction thereof in each auxiliary society, shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Section 3. Delegates must present at the annual meeting credentials signed by the President and Recording Secretary of their respective societies. Section 4. Any auxiliary league or society whose dues are unpaid on October first shall lose its votes at the annual meeting of that year. ARTICLE VI. Meetings. Section 1. The annual meeting of this Association shall be held in the month of October at such place and date as shall be designated Oct., 1911. THE WOMAN CITIZEN 3 by the President and Secretaries of the Association. Section 2. The regular business meeting shall be held on the first Thursday of each month from November to May inclusive, the place and hour to be specified by the President and Secretaries of the Association. Section 3. Special meetings may be called at such places and times as shall be named by the Executive Committee. Section 4. Notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed to each member at least five days prior to the date of the meeting. Notice of the other meetings shall be mailed to each member at least three days prior to the date of each meeting. All such notices shall be given by the Corresponding Secretary, except in case of absence or inability to act or a vacancy in that office when the notice shall be given by the Recording Secretary. Section 5. A quorum at all business meetings shall consist of not less than fifteen members. ARTICLE VII. Executive Committee. Section 1. The Executive Committee shall hold monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month from September to May, inclusive, at the call of the Chairman of the Committee. Special meetings shall be called at any place and time by the Secretary of the Executive Committee on the written request of five members of that committee. Seven members shall be a quorum of the Executive Committee. Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have the general management and direction of the affairs of the Association, subject to the vote of the Association at its regular business meetings. It shall be the duty of this committee to report at each regular meeting of the Association the work done by the committee during the previous month. Section 3. It may fill all vacancies that occur in offices of this Association by elections for the unexpired term. Section 4. It may elect as Honorary Vice Presidents distinguished adherents of the cause of Woman Suffrage who are or have been residents of Rhode Island. ARTICLE VIII. Committees. Section 1. The Standing Committees of this Association shall be as follows, viz.: 1, Education; 2, Enrollment; 3, Finance; 4, Legislation; 5, Literature; 6, Nomination of Officers; 7, Organization; 8, Peace; 9, Press Work; 10, Printing and Supplies; 11, Program. Section 2. The Chairman of each Standing Committee shall have the power to choose the members of that committee. Section 3. The Executive Committee may appoint at discretion such special committees as may be needed during the year. ARTICLE IX. National Associatiin. The Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association shall be auxiliary to the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and its Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint delegates to the Annual Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and to elect the member of the National Executive Committee. ARTICLE X. Amendments. This Constitution may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of the voting membership present, notice of the proposed amendments having been sent to each member of this Association, and to the President and Secretary of each auxiliary local society, not less than one month before the date of such meeting. ARTICLE XI. Rules of Order. All meetings of this Association and of the Executive Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of parliamentary law, "Shattuck's Advanced Rules" being the authority. Shall the National American Woman Suffrage Association Recognize More Than One Society in a State? Rhode Island suffragists, like those of other States, are considering the above question which is to be voted upon at the National Convention at Louisville, Kentucky, October 19 to 25. Our national association at present recognizes one suffrage society in a State. The amendment proposes that it MAY recognize any suffrage society in any State if that society has a membership of fifty persons. The Rhode Island association has not formally considered the question. It has been brought before no meeting of that body. It is not likely to have an opportunity for such consideration before the National Convention. The Executive Committee has discussed the question and heard the argument of President Yates in opposition to the amendment and has unanimously decided to oppose the amendment. Mrs. French, the only person greatly interested in the affirmative of the question, was not present mhen the vote was taken. A copy of our present national constitution has been printed and circulated by the Woman's Journal, our National paper. Extra 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN Oct., 1911. copies can doubtless be obtained at the office of that paper at 85 Boylston Street, Boston. To set the question before our readers the constitution of the Rhode Island Association is printed in this number. This is necessary as the league members do not receive copies of the documents of the society. To set the situation in our State before our readers a brief description of the growth of our State society is given. The Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association was organized by people from various parts of out State who responded to a call headed by Thomas Wentworth Higginson of Newport followed by a long list of names of well-known men and women. They gathered in Roger Williams Hall December 11, 1868. From that day to this year a suffrage meeting has been held in Providence on the first Thursday of each calendar month. To make a home for this and another society a stock company was formed and Blackstone Hall Building was erected. This gave the society a large auditorium with a gallery, a beautiful parlor also a dining room and kitchen. The early meetings were addressed by the great men and women of the time and these meetings were always well attended. Some years ago the cutting in two of this building to widen the street made it useless for society gatherings and the suffragists have since been without a home. From the beginning each member of this society has paid a membership fee of one dollar yearly. In 1888 Mrs. Louise M. Tyler of Chelsea, Mass., was engaged as State Organizer. Mrs. Tyler was very active and successful. She organized leagues in Providence, Pawtucket, Valley Falls, North Providence, East Greenwich, Newport, Little Compton and in other places of which no record is at hand. These leagues agreed to pay the association twenty- five cents yearly for each member and kept their word while they lived. They also did local work. Mrs. Tyler, who was to have continued to visit these leagues was suddenly called away to go with her husband and children to Colorado. There this lady organized a league in the city of Denver, which work was one of the things that led to the enfranchisement of women in Colorado in 1893. Left without care three of the leagues, North Providence, East Greenwich and Drownville, died early. Newport, Valley Falls and Providence have since passed away. Anthony, Little Compton and Pawtucket are still alive but weak. A few years ago Miss Cora Mitchell and her sister came to our State from New York city. They organized a society which they called The Newport County Woman Suffrage Association. They worked individually and bade fair to be just what was needed--a social suffrage center in the southern part of the State. But, as they could not be recognized by the National body, they bowed their heads to the State association and became auxiliary. The Association not long ago, organized a society of college woman. This society forms an independent factor in our State and is much more effective than it could possibly be as a league. Their healthy position in our State and their charming vigor gives hope that their work will be very effective. The Rhode Island Association not long ago organized a society of college women. This society forms an independent factor in our State and is much more effective than it could be as an auxiliary. Its healthy position in out State and its charming vigor gives hope of very effective work. The woman citizen believes that no body of suffragists should be recognized as a State association by our National association unless that body is a union of members on equal terms. We should teach a republican form of government in our work. Mrs. Parkhurst is to lecture in the Providence Opera House in December. Popular prices. Do not miss hearing her. RHODE ISLAND STATE COLLEGE Four Year Courses, with standard requirements for entrance, leading to the B. S. degree. Two Year Agricultural, Industrial and Domestic Art Courses, leading to certificate. All Free of Tuition For Rhode Islanders. Expenses low. Health condition unsurpassed. Excellent dormitory accommodations for men. Unsurpassed dormitory accommodations for women, under competent and careful supervision. Forty minutes' travel from Providence, sixteen to eighteen trains daily. Country life. Favorable surroundings. Write for catalogue or visit us. Address, Howard Edwards, President, Kingston, Rhode Island. Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R. I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-L Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." --Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." --Constitution of Rhode Island. VOL. IX. RHODE ISLAND, SEPTEMBER, 1913. NO. 7. State Normal School, State House. "Hope" is the Motto of Rhode Island. In education and good laws is the hope of Rhode Island Women. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeannette Schouler French. Contributing Editor, Mrs. Lena Morris Reynolds. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Tel. Pawt. 515. NOTICE ! Suffrage Meetings will be be held at the Office of the Woman Citizen, 365 North Main Street, on Monday Evenings at Eight O'Clock, until further notice. VISITORS WELCOME An Eminent Opinion. The late Thomas Wentworth Higginson was once asked, "When will women get the ballot." The reply was, "When men are civilized enough to give it to them." This remark has been previously printed in our columns and it will be printed often, if educated men ask the question as they have of late. Senator Jones' Speach. (From Woman Suffrage Headquarters.) Washington, Sept. 18.--Senator Wesley L. Jones, of Washington, today brought up the consideration of Senate Joint Resolution No. 1, which provides for the submission to the states of an amendment to the constitution providing that the right to vote shall not be denied any one on account of sex. The resolution has already passed its first and second reading. It was favorably reported to the Senate in June. "The resolution is now on the calender," said Senator Jones, "and ought to be considered and acted upon at once. Congress is in session. The Senate is not considering any legislation. We are adjourning three says at a time while this important legislation awaits consideration. A short time ago petitions were presented from every state in the nation asking action one way or the other. Why not consider it and dispose of it one way or the other? "There can be no reason for not acting upon this resolution except that inertness which characterizes a body like this when it does not desire to see any radical change made, and yet is afraid to oppose it, and therefore compromises by doing nothing. 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. September, 1913. There is much complaint because of the difficulty of amending the Constitution and a demand is growing that an easier method should be devised. We, ourselves, are largely responsible for this. We should be more responsive to the wishes of the people. "No one can say that there is no demand for its passage. Millions of voters from the Pacific and Rocky Mountain States, where the broad expanse of territory and almost bonudless horizon creates a breadth of vision and desire for political liberty that takes in the entire continent, have asked for its passage. The states of the East and the Middle West are agitated over it and thousands of their citizens ask us to pass it. Political parties representing millions of male voters have declared in favor of it and farmer and labor organizations, with millions of members, have endorsed it. Under these circumstances, we should pass this resolution whether we believe in the merits of the proposition or not. "The demand for woman suffrage is but another step in the progress of woman to an equality with man that has been going on through the centuries and which we can no more stop than we can prevent the ebbing and flowing of the tides. It will be consumated just as surely as time rolls on. Barbarism and savagery mark woman's lowest condition and greatest subjection. This results largely from her physical weakness and her natural docility. With education, refinement and civilization has come her gradual emancipation until today she has most of the civil rights of man. "We have a provision in the Constitution that prevents us from refusing to her the right to vote on account of previous condition of servitude. We cannot deny her this right on account of color. Why should we be permitted to prevent her from voting on account of her sex? What peculiar sexual difference is there that entitles man to vote and prevents woman? Can any one point out any such peculiarity? No one has ever done so. There is none. "Another objection is that many men do not vote and that many women would not vote. Such an objection is not based upon sex but upon the failure of both me and women to do their duty. This would be a good argument for denying the right to vote to some men but it is no argument for deny- to all women the power to discharge properly the duties of citizenship. Because some men fail to discharge their duty as citizens is no good reason for refusing to permit the women to discharge their duties. I know that the indifferent voter is responsible for many of the ills of practical politics and I would like to see some way devised to punish all who neglect this great civic duty. "In the last analysis, the argument against woman suffrage is an argument for the restriction of the right of suffrage for men as well as women and indicates that woman suffrage would be a good thing in order that the indifferent and undesirable voter might be eliminated. "That women have great influence now is strangely enough urged as an objection to woman suffrage. She has great influence now, but give her the opportunity to discharge her duty as a citizen and she will not only have the influence she now has, but she will have a power which she does not possess. We are not asking a right or a privilege for women in the passage of this resolution and the adoption of this amendment, but we are asking that they be given an opportunity to discharge fully and effectively the duty which they feel rests upon them as citizens. "Some oppose this proposition because they do not want the women to go to the polis to vote on account of unfit conditions or undesirable surroundings. If this objection has any force at all, it shows that the male sex are unfit to have charge of Governmental affairs. If voting places are so undesirable that women should not go there, the men are to blame. Such conditions would not be permitted even if the anti-suffragists had the power to change them. If there is disorder at the polls it should be suppressed and it will be suppressed if women have the power to do it. "Another objection is urged to the effect that if a woman votes she will be expected to discharge all the public duties imposed upon men. There is no force to this objection. Not all male voters are held to the same duties and responsibilities. Some are excused from serving on juries for various reasons and others are excused altogether. Some men have to pay poll taxes, others are excused. Some men can enlist in the army or navy and others can not. These matters are all regulated now and no one charges discrimination and there is no reason why men and women cannot make such exemptions as may be deemed wise by all. "Another objection is that it will break up the home. This is absolutely without foundation and is contrary to experience. As a matter of fact it strengthens home ties and makes more of a community of interest between the mother and son, brother and September, 1913. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 sister and husband and wife and developes a higher citizenship and sweeter companionship in both. "Will woman suffrage lessen man's respect for or chivalry toward women? Not at all. It has not done so where tried, and, if it should do it, it would be a reflection on the men and not on the women and would show the necessity of inculcating in men a higher regard for the proper discharge of the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. The man whose respect and regard for woman is lowered because she discharges her full duty by using her power for good is lacking in real manhood and demonstrates his own unfitness for exercising the franchise and furnishes a strong argument for restricted suffrage to begin with the male and not the female. "There is really no substantial objection that can be urged to the passage of this resolution and the adoption of this amendment. Every objection that is urged can be urged with greater force against male suffrage and has no force in sex distinction. It is most difficult to argue a proposition against which no valid objection can be urged. It is like fighting windmills. One good woman opposing woman suffrage says: " 'I want her to be a good homemaker, a good mother, and a loyel, intelligent, active citizen.' "So do we all, and to give her the power to discharge the duty of good citizenship will assist her in making not only her home better, but other homes better, it will make her not only a good mother but enable her to be a more efficient mother and as an example an inspiring one to her children." Senator Ashurct, of Arizona, who submitted the favorable report on the amendment, announced during the discussion that he would press the amendment to a vote in the Senate at the earliest possible moment. Woman Suffrage in the South. Washington, Sept. 11. - "The South is being rapidly won over to the woman suffrage cause. It is a great mistake to believe that there is no sentiment for votes for women south of the Mason and Dixon line, for the fact is that the movement sis gaining ground more rapidly in the South than in any part of the country, except the far West." This is the opening of a statement given out her today by Mrs. Solon Jacobs, of Birmingham, Ala., President of the Alabama Woman Suffrage Association, through the Congressional Committee of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Mrs. Jacobs arrived in Washington today to discuss the work with suffragist leaders here. "I have just received word," Mrs. Jacobs continued, in her statement, "that arrangements have been completed for calling a big woman suffrage conference in New Orleans early in November. The project is being pushed by Miss Kate Gordon, of New Orleans, with the consent of the suffrage leaders of all Southern states. All the southern Governors are to be invited to this conference, and we hope all will attend. One of the main subjects is to be the framing of a model constitutional amendment for the Southern states, which can be adopted without interfering with previous amendments, on other subjects. "The people of the South are adopting the suffrage cause so rapidly that we have trouble forming new organizations rapidly enough. In our state of Alabama the suffrage sentiment is very strong already and constantly growing, and in other states of this section conditions are practically the same." Mrs Jacobs said she did not care to discuss the attitude of Representative Heflin of her State, the dyed-in-the-wool anti-suffragist. She said that Mr. Heflin does not visit Alabama very frequently and does not know what the sentiment there is. "Mr. Heflin's attitude speaks for itself," she said. "Let him be judged by what he has said." All Roads Lead to Washington On the evening of July 29, the Woman Citizen placed her pet kitten in the care of a kind neighbor, locked her office door and departed for Washington, D.C. On the route she circulated literature among her fellow passengers and had the satisfaction of seeing it read by many. One young lady read the selection over and over. She had a sweet, refined face. On reaching suffrage headquarters at first she found a yellow flag flying and she entered a spacious and well lighted basement filled with women making preparations for the morrow. She was cordially received and recommended to the De Soto Inn, 214 B Street, S. E. This place was beautifully and conveniently situated near 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. September, 1913. the capital grounds and the congressional library. Before reaching her destination dark clouds gathered and rain fell and she was forced to take refuge in a house that kindly opened its doors to her. Here she met a pleasant family. During a lull in the storm she reached her destination, which these friends told her was close at hand. No need to tell of the fury of the storm that followed. It has been told all over the country. It is surprising that the loss of life was not greater than it was. Many streets are not yet cleared of withered leaves. For several days wagons laden with green branches passing through the streets made one think of Christmas. Happily Washington has so many beautiful trees that only those well acquainted with the lost ones can miss them. Near the Inn was a tall brick wall completely covered with ivy. Between the storms it was sad to watch the English sparrows who, evidently, had found their homes disturbed by the wind, although the vine was so thick with foliage that not one sparrow had fallen to the ground. The little housekeepers, however, found everything out of place and chattered away as they worked. The story of the trip to Hyatteville, Maryland, and the visit of suffragists to the Capitol we give in the story of the day as printed by the Washington Suffrage Committee, but are obliged to omit names for want of space. J. S. F. Mrs. Pankhurst. In some of our dailies it has been suggested that Mrs. Pankhurst may be denied admission to our country should she again approach our shores. In a country that honors military heroes, men who have resisted tyranny by resort to arms, who have taken part in battles where thousands of men have been slain, it seems outrageous to even suggest that a woman who has struggled to obtain the ballot for women and who has been denied even The Sacred Right of Petition, should be refused free entry to our country simply because she has refused to submit to tyranny and has resorted to such force as was possible to her. In the exercise of this force neither she nor her followers have neglected any precaution to preserve the life of others. They have burned unoccupied buildings. They have placed acids in letter boxes. They have disturbed Mr. Asquith on the golf links with personal petitions. They have never taken life. Their caution in this matter has been wonderful. This denial of the right of petition has never been made in Rhode Island, probably not anywhere in our country. Legislators in Rhode Island have begged suffragists not to petition, but they have never refused to receive such petitions and to introduce them in our General Assembly. Let our State progress, not fall back. "Woman suffrage, --How it Works," is to be the topic for a public meeting to be held the same evening. Miss Adams will probably make her address at this meeting, and members of the Senate and House, with many noted women, from the equal suffrage stats, are to be on the program. The conference is expected to be of great interest and importance. The women who attend the conference are all to be actual voters. It will be the first gathering of women voters ever held in Washington. Suffrage Notices. Miss Yates will speak at Middleton, R. I., October 8. On account of the failure to secure a large hall, the New England Woman Suffrage Association will hold no meeting at this season in the southern part of our State. On August 26, Miss Edith Marsden addressed the Woman Suffrage Party and friends and obtained many subscribers to the Congressional Union in which she is interested. A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the R. I. Woman Suffrage Association will be held at No. 1 Congdon street, Providence, Sept. 35, 3 P. M. A company of suffragests has been active at the Washington County Fair at Kingston. Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R. I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-W Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. * * * * " –Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." –Constitution of Rhode Island VOL. IX. RHODE ISLAND, JUNE AND JULY, 1913. No. 5. 22500 R.I. State Capitol and R.T Normal School, Providence, R. I. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. STATE HOUSE. "Hope is the Motto of Rhode Island. In education and good laws is the hope of Rhode Island Women. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeannette Schouler French. Contributing Editor, Mrs. Lena Morris Reynolds. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Tel. Pawt. 515. OUR STRENGTH Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Arizona, California, Kansas, Washington, Oregon and Alaska give women equal political power with men. Illinois has this year given the women of the state a large measure of statutory suffrage. CAMPAIGN STATES. With the close of the present month one-half the year 1913 will have passed away. It has certainly been no hoodoo to woman suffrage, for it has given us eight campaign sates and almost full suffrage in Illinois. South Dakota in January became a campaign state. There were only two opposing votes in the Senate and in the House the vote was 70 to 30. New York in February passed a suffrage amendment in both branches of the Assembly with almost no opposition. The question now goes to the voters. Nevada in February passed a suffrage amendment in the Senate with a vote of 19 to 3. It had already passed the House. Missouri in February passed a suffrage amendment in the Senate, 19 to 7. The act had already passed the House. New Jersey in February passed an act for woman suffrage, 46 to 5 in the House. The Senate passed thee same, 14 to 5. Alaska in March was admitted to the Union with full suffrage for women in its constitution. Pennsylvania in April passed an act for woman suffrage, 26 to 2p, in the Senate. The act had already passed the House. Illinois in June granted to women all the political power it could give without an amendment to the state constitution and the women are now voters on statutory questions. The women of Illinois now vote for President, Vice-President and many other offices. J. S. F. 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. June and July, 1913. ILLINOIS HAS WON. For many years the query among suffragists has been which state east of the Mississippi would be the first to give the ballot to women? Last autumn we thought that Michigan had won the honor and we wish we had not been mistaken. We rejoiced at her joy and we sorrowed with her sorrow. As usual the unexpected happened and the great honor has been won by Illinois after an active, though short campaign. The victory is exceedingly interesting to Rhode Island, because it was won on the line often attempted by our state, that of asking for presidential suffrage and for anything else that can be obtained. A study of the campaign shows that the leadership was splendid and that the following was good. Hard work with wise methods has won. Well done Illinois. The Illinois victory calls up thoughts of pleasant days in the minds of many. The Editor of the Woman Citizen is a graduate of the Cook County Normal School. The father and mother-in-law of our Contributing Editor was married in the parlor of the University of Illinois immediately after receiving diplomas from that institution. NATIONAL SUFRAGE. All eyes are now turned to Washington, D. C., with hope that Congress will pass the following amendment, which is now with the Senate, having been favorably reported from committee. In the Senate of the United States, April 7, 1913, Mr. Chamberlain introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Woman Suffrage. JOINT RESOLUTION, proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States extending the right of suffrage to women:— Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States, as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, shall be valid as part of said Constitution, namely: "ARTICLE - "Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. "Section 2. The Congress shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article. If all persons who read this article will write to their Senators and Representatives that they desire woman suffrage, much good will result. J. S. F. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Washington, July 13, - Announcement was made at suffrage headquarters here to-day that all three of the party nominees for the vacancy in the House from the Sixth New Jersey District have come out in the open in favor of "votes for women" and that therefore the successor to the late Representative Martin is certain to be a suffragist. The three nominees were chosen at primaries held July 8th. "Herbert M. Bailey, the Progressive candidate, when asked about woman suffrage, said: 'I am for it, and, if elected, will certainly support the woman suffrage amendment to the United States constitution.' " "Archibald C. Hart, the winning Democratic candidate, said: "I am in favor of woman suffrage because I believe that women will have a sweetening and clarifying effect on public life. When one compares some of the women excluded from the franchise with the 'crows' on election day, who sit on the fence by the polls waiting for material inducement to vote, one can hardly understand the principle of selection by which men are accepted as voters, while able women of the community are left out. I will certainly vote, if elected to Congress, for an amendment to the United States constitution enfranchising women." "Major Steven Wood McClave, the Republican nominee, believes in woman suffrage, and sees no reason for the present disenfranchisement of women. One of his daughters walked recently in a suffrage procession with some of her fellow members of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Major McClave showed with pride the banner his daughter carried, bearing the inscription, 'Let the women who can, vote; let the woman who can't learn.' He promised, if elected, to work for woman suffrage, and to vote for the proposed constitutional amendment." The report of the committee was agreed on following exhaustive hearings, during which representatives of both the suffragists and the anti-suffragists were given a full opportunity to be heard. The women from the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, headed by Mrs. Arthur M. Dodge of New York, were headed at one time, the women from the National Woman Suffrage Association, headed by Dr. Anna Shaw, at another and the representatives of the Federal Woman's June and July, 1913. THE WOMAN CITIZEN 3 Equality Association at still another. Senator Thomas has let it be known that he is ready to make an earnest fight to get the amendment adopted by the Senate. He considers it one of the most pressing subjects before the country, if not the most pressing at the present time. He will be backed by all of the senators from the nine states where women vote, and by a number of others, including Senator Townsend of Michigan, where suffrage was recently defeated. IN MEMORIAM. In June Mrs. Clara Fraser Delany died suddenly at her summer home at Shawome Beach, leaving a husband, son, daughter and sister, who have our sympathy. Mrs. Delaney was a very active and earnest woman. She loved her family, home, church and friends. She was a member of many societies, one of which was the Pawtucket Woman Suffrage League, which she left to take office in the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association. IN MEMORIAM. On July 5, Mrs. I. C. Manchester of Providence after a long illness of which many of her friends were unaware. Mrs. Manchester was a very active and earnest woman. She had talent for organizing and used it well for the benefit of many societies. She was a member of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association from its first meeting. She represented that body at a national gathering in Louisiana, also at a meeting of the International Congress of Women at Toronto, Canada, in 1908. Her chief activities were with other organizations. She will be missed by many and the sympathy of those who knew her will be with her husband and relatives. TO SUBSCRIBERS AND READERS. The present year is the ninth year of the Woman Citizen. At first but nine numbers were issued each year. Last year twelve numbers were given, but the price was not raised. The paper has been due to appear on the last week of each month. The Woman Citizen will in future be due on the first week of each month, but its editor holds the right to reduce the number of copies issued to the original number. She, however, expects to issue eleven numbers this year. There has never been any debt upon the Woman Citizen. "Out of debt, out of danger" is the motto of the management. With kindest regards to subscribers, readers, and helpers, The Editor. THE SACRED RIGHT OF PETITION. The Woman Citizen has no sympathy with the expressions of disgust so often heard and read in connection with the suffragettes of England. She is personally acquainted with Mrs. Pankhurst and believes her to be a noble, well educated, self sacrificing gentlewoman, with great qualifications for leadership. She has earnestness, judgment, general good sense united with experience and study of the English government and its attitude toward women. She has seen injustice to women that has aroused her to the great need of power in the hands of women. At a time when we are celebrating the battle of Gettysburg, where more than 23,000 men lost their lives; at a time when we are celebrating the Fourth of May, when Rhode Island declared herself independent of Great Britain; at a time when we are celebrating the Fourth of July, when twelve other states declared themselves free of Great Britain, it ill becomes us to condemn British women who are trying to secure for themselves and all other British women the sacred right of petition. These women who have suffered and are suffering in British prisons, these women who are giving their property and their lives to raise women by British law to a standard equal to that of British men and are imprisoned for their efforts have disturbed the calm serenity of the well-to-do class of British members of Parliament because they insist upon the right of petition. This indignity has never been suffered by the women of our country. Our petitions have been received in the regular way and hearings upon these petitions have never been refused, although they have been delayed. Sometimes our petitions have been allowed to go through one house, to be killed in the other, but the right of petition has never been denied. The right of petition by women has never been treated with the same respect that has been accorded to political parties not in power, and strength is given to women as to these parties by the consideration of their question which this agitation gives, both in our General Assemblies and in our newspapers. The conditions of British women is different. Their petitions have been refused. Not being allowed to petition by the usual method, they have petitioned by irregular methods. They have entered the little, high grated, prison-like place called a gallery in Parliament House and have flung down their petitions through the gratings. They have made speeches from this gallery. They have padlocked themselves to the gratings and made sueeches while their irons were being filed off. They secured a 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN June and July 1913 furniture van and road in it to Parliament. The janitor admitted them, thinking them a load of furniture. They stepped upon the sacred floor of Parliament and made speeches until they were ousted. The United States has offered obstacles, but women have never been denied entrance to our state houses up to this date. But some will say, "Why do they not fight as men do?" Lloyd George has said this. The answer is that they cannot fight and do not wish to do so. Woman is not a fighting animal. The females of the lower animals only fight in fear or in self-defense. Being denied the right of petition, they are fighting by burning unoccupied buildings and causing loss, by throwing acids into letter boxes and causing trouble by breaking plate glass which had to be paid for by the insurance companies, and one woman has called attention to the woman suffrage by throwing herself under the feet of a race horse and losing her life. The honors paid at the funeral of this woman, the thousands who followed her body through London show that she was regarded as a great woman, an artist, and, above all, a patriot. When we read of the large sums of money collected by the suffragettes we wonder that they do not buy powder and ball and fight men in a way that men can understand. But they cannot do this. Human life is more sacred to woman then it is to man. They suffer more to bring humanity into the world, their lives are spent in nurturing human life. They will not waste it and they sorrow when others do so. They see that keeping women out of politics destroys a power to help the race and they struggle for that power. They will win or die. J. S. F. Home Work. The R. I. W. S. A. Is working hard as usual. In conjunction with the leagues it is proposed to have a meeting of the New England Association at Newport in the autumn. The college women are doing fine work organizing a Woman Suffrage Party. The leagues are alive. The Pawtucket league assists the Woman Citizen and other good things. Enrollment is the easiest work possible. An interesting and valuable meeting was lately held at the Bronson-Alcott school, Providence. Mrs. Mary Hutchinson Page was the speaker. This lady is the leader of the Woman Suffrage Party of Boston, and her lecture was full of valuable information. We hope ere long to report activities in the southern part of our state. The Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Party is developing rapidly along the line suggested by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, and our state is being systematically canvassed by an efficient corps of women workers. Pawtucket's activities begin this month at the home of Mrs. Vinton I. Reynolds, 78 Lafayette street, she having been chosen the captain of the Ninth Assembly District. Mrs. E.U. Yates, President of the Rhode Island Suffrage Association, will conduct a class for suffrage workers for eight consecutive weeks, beginning July 8th of this year. For further information address Miss Sarah I. Fitz, 197 Longfellow street, Providence. The Woman Citizen gladly receives "The Rhode Island Issue," and reads it, too. The liquor interest has always been a powerful opponent of woman suffrage. We gladly accept the honor of being its opponent. The time for reporting the amendment to the Senate for action was not decided upon by the committee to-day, but it was decided that Senator Thomas should make a report as soon as possible. Members of the committee said that they expected to get a report before the Senate in the very near future. A Doubtful Program. "Of course, the office ought to seek the man." "I don't know about that,' replied Senator Sorghum. "A man who stands around waiting for an office to seek him probably wouldn't have energy enough to do anything with it if it came his way." – Washington Star. "Johnnie, I don't believe that you have studied your geography to-day. "No, mum. I heard Pa say that the map of the world was changing every day an' I thought I'd wait a few years till things got settled." He—"If I call Pa, Pop, why cannot I call Ma, Mop?" She-"If you do she'll wipe the floor with you." Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R. I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 north Main street. Telephone 768-W Pawt. The Woman Citizen "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. * * * *" —Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." —Constitution of Rhode Island. VOL. IX. RHODE ISLAND, OCTOBER, 1913. NO. 10. Our Picture. Our picture to-day represents the home of the editor of the Woman Citizen, 365 North Main street, Pawtucket. The office of the Woman Citizen is in the rear of the front door. Many suffrage meetings have been held there in the house and back yard. The trees are much larger now. Notices Mrs. Pankhurst will speak in Infantry Hall, Providence at 8 o'clock on November 14th. Mrs. Pankhurst is a woman, who makes one think "Power in Repose." Her voice is admirably suited to public speaking and to listen to her calmly spoken, clear cut sentences is restful. The Woman Citizen sadly notes the very serious illness of Annie Kenney the young girl from the coal regions of England, who sought Mrs. Pankhurst and told her of needs of women among whom she had lived. Her story was very influential and led the investigation of conditions of women in England, and convinced the investigators that the ballot in the hands of women was the only sure remedy for the ills complained of. Are You Going to March? The following invitation has been received at the office of the Woman Citizen: (Continued on last page.) 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. October, 1913. From Woman Suffrage Headquarters. Washington, October 23.—Prospects for nation-wide woman suffrage in the United States are growing exceedingly bright, in the opinion of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, who left Washington to-day for Lynchburg, Va., to deliver a vote for woman speech there. Dr. Shaw said here to-day that the suffrage outlook is so favorable that from now on the National American Woman Suffrage Association will pay particular attention to the work of getting Congress to pass the pending amendment to the Federal Constitution for votes for women. Plans for making this one of the leading subjects for discussion at the national convention of the suffragists, which convenes here December 1st, were outlined by Dr. Shaw and Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage during Dr. Shaw's visit here. The plans include the carrying on of a very active campaign in Washington, during the coming winter, and, in accordance with this plan, careful scrutiny is being made of the records of all candidates for the Senate and House. "All during the present session of Congress, we have been put off with statements that only certain subjects were to be taken up at the extra session," said Miss Paul, to-day. "The beginning of the regular session is nearly here and we are getting ready to push our cause just as actively as we know how. "We want the Senate to lose no time in adopting the constitutional amendment which has already been reported favorably to it by the suffrage committee by a unanimous vote and which is ready for its final reading, and we also want the House to create a suffrage committee which will give proper consideration to this most important subject." Before leaving Washington, Dr. Shaw promised to deliver the opening lecture of the suffrage school which is to be run here for two weeks beginning December 7th, directly after the close of the National Convention. She is to speak on the Psychology of Audiences and tell how to hold them. Many other national leaders are to lecture at the school, which is to be conducted at the Public Library here. The suffragists here to-day received a letter from C. L. Wellington, Bull Moose candidate for the U. S. Senate, in Maryland, pledging himself to vote for the pending constitutional amendment if elected to the Senate. The other senatorial candidates in Maryland as well as the candidate for the vacancy in the Maryland congressional delegation are also being queried as to their position on the subject. Mrs. William J. Brown, President of the Equal Franchise League of Maryland, was in Washington to-day to talk over plans for the National Convention, and brought the word that 100 delegates from the tour Maryland Suffrage Organizations will attend the Convention. Mrs. Donald R. Hooker, President of The Just Government League, Mrs. J. W. Funk President of the Woman Suffrage League of Maryland, Dr. W. Edward Janney, President of the Men's League for Woman Suffrage, and Mrs. Brown, herself, will head the delegation. ---------- Washington, October 24. - Lectures on every possible phase of the suffragist and feminist movement are to be included in the course of a woman suffrage school to be started under the auspices of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage, December 8th, according to plans for the school made public at the headquarters of the Union here to-day. The lectures are to be given by a distinguished group of men and women headed by Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and including a number of members of the Senate and House. The school is aimed to thoroughly educate those who attend in the history, principles and methods of the votes for women cause. Addresses on the history and ideals of the three big political parties, and also of the socialist party, delivered by leaders of each, are to be a distinctive feature of the school. Held at the close of the National Convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the school is expected to attract scores of suffrage workers from all parts of the country. The militant movement in England is to be discussed by Miss Lucy Burns, Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Union, who has gained her information at first-hand, while Dr. Shaw is to speak on the psychology of an audience, seeking to tell the students of the school just how to interest and hold a crowd. Speakers who have already consented to deliver lectures with their subjects, are as follows: Bibliography, Mrs. Frances M. Bjorkman, of New York; Parliamentary Law, Mrs. Nanette B. Paul, a professor in the National College of Law here; The Legal Status of Woman, Miss Emma Gillette, dean of the National College of Law; Present Status of the Campaign in the United States, Mrs. Mary W. Dennett (Corresponding Secretary of the National Suffrage Association); suffrage in its relation October, 1913. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 to Social Purity, Miss Lavinia Dock, (Secretary of the International Association of Nurses); History of Woman's Education in the United States, Miss Eliza Lord (formerly dean of Western Reserve University); Public Documents, Mrs. Helen H. Gardener; The Life and Work of Ellen Key by Mrs. Rheta Childe Dorr; History and Present Status of the Federal Amendment for Woman Suffrage, Miss Alice Paul; Press Work by Gilson Gardner. Other important subjects to be discussed by authorities include public speaking, suffrage as it affects women in industry, the international suffrage movement, what women will do with the ballot. --------- Washington, March 25. - President Wilson is to be besieged by suffragists again in an effort to get him to include in his message to the extra session of Congress April 7 a recommendation for a constitutional amendment giving nation-wide suffrage. Senator Cummins, of Iowa, to-day arranged with the President to receive a delegation of college suffragists Friday morning. This time the arguments will come from quarters close to the President and his family. He will be appealed to by five college graduates, and two of them daughters of public men. In the party will be Miss Anna Abel, professor at Goucher college, Baltimore, where two of the President's daughters studied. Miss Prouty, daughter of Representative Prouty of Iowa, was instrumental in getting the engagement and will be one of those to call on the President. Others will be Miss Elsie Hill, daughter of former Representative Hill of Connecticut, and President of the College Woman's Suffrage League of the District, Miss Eliza Lord and Professor Beard of Columbia University, New York. Several of the suffragist leaders went to the White House more than a week ago to ask the President to support their cause, and he told them he would consider their request. Ever since then his mail has been filled with letters and petitions from suffragists in all parts of the country urging him to accede to the request. So far he has given no indication as to his decision. That the suffrage amendment will be actively pushed in both houses of Congress regardless of the President's attitude is already assured. Representative Raker of California to-day promised to introduce it in the House immediately after the convening of the extra session, and Senator Thomas of Colorado, Chairman of the Senate woman suffrage committee, has promised to care for it in the Senate. EDITORIAL. General Pankhurst. President Wilson has declared Mrs. Pankhurst free to enter our country and free to fulfil her lecture engagements, because, although she has broken plate glass, she committed the act for political reasons. How could he do otherwise? As long as men settle political questions by force, why should not women do the same? As long as men honor generals, who have led in battle where thousands have been slain, how could a president refuse to admit a woman general of thousands of women and men because she had been militant enough to break window glass for which insurance companies had to pay? General Pankhurst has shown great ability in handling thousands of militant women so that life has not been lost by their actions, so that no deplorable event has been laid at their door. To have refused to admit Mrs. Pankhurst, while our generals who have killed thousands are freely admitted and honored in other countries, would be absurd and cruel. Mrs. Pankhurst is really a leader of thought for she has proved that war can be carried on by annoying an opponent and by taking suffering by forcible feeding upon the militant party. Lives will be lost by the Pankhurst method, but the number will be infinitely less than are being lost constantly by keeping women disfranchised. Mrs. Pankhurst is in the line of progress even as our great generals were, but how much better, how much nobler her method? J. S. F. The More Enduring Sex. A remarkable tribute to womanhood is paid by Judge William N. Gemmill, who has been presiding over the Domestic Relations Court in Chicago. The judge presents a table showing the various causes of domestic differences, and among the leading causes stands "interference of mothers-in-law;" but the point that will undoubtedly attract most attention is the judge's commentary, based on the evidence before him, that "the average woman is certainly better than the average man." For example, the "average man walks off from his family * * * without the slightest compunction," while, "no matter what the conditions are, a mother does not desert her children." The exceptions in the latter case prove the rule, although it happened that there were no exceptions before the Chicago judge. The "weaker vessel" is, on the average, the stronger partner under the marriage contract; the sex that generally sues for "life in the humblest cottage" and then protests its "unalterable de- THE WOMAN CITIZEN October, 1913 votion" is apt to be the first to run away to escape the consequences. Statistics thus corroborate a matter of common knowledge. Yet they tell only a small part of the story of the abused wife's devotion and the deserted wife's illimitable courage. The bench, at any rate, has paid due tribute to the more enduring sex. (Continued from first page.) There is to be a stirring Woman Suffrage Parade in Brooklyn on Saturday, November 1st, 1923, at 2:30 p. m. Delegations will come from all parts of the country. The Men's League will march with a band, a mounted escort, individual insignia, and the new State banner. It is expected that we shall make an even more impressive showing than in the New York parade last May, when the moral effect of a large body of men marching for suffrage proved an important contribution to the cause. Fill in and mail the attached pledge at once. Your immediate enrollment will aid the committee in its work. Place of formation and other details will be sent to you later. Mrs. Algro, President of the Women Suffrage Party will speak in West Barrington, at the home of Mrs. Ruth Anthony Davis, Oct. 28. The Woman Suffrage Party will sell The Woman's Journal and The Woman Citizen on the street in Providence on Saturday, Nov. 1. beginning at 8 o'clock a. m. The Woman Suffrage party meets every Tuesday at 10:30 o'clock in its new room on the sixth floor of the Jackson building. The Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association meets on the first Thursday of each month in Recital Hall, Butler Exchange, 3 o'clock. A Domestic Jar. "I might have married a millionaire," declared Everywoman. "One of my schoolmates is one now." "And several of your schoolmates are working right in this town for $10 a week," retorted Everyman, "while one of them is in jail. I guess in marying a chap getting $1500 a year your average is fairly good." And then Everybaby set up a howl and they had to stop quarreling to attend to him. Eastern Star. Annual Meeting. The Annaul Meeting of the Rhode Island Woman SYffrage Association was held in Recital Hall, Butler Exchange, October 9. The morning session was devoted to the election of officers, with the following results: President, Elizabeth Upham Yates; Vice- President, Ardelia C. D. Gladding; Second Vice-President, Ellen R. Parks; Third Vice- President, Mary Van. E. Ferguson; Recording Secretary, Mary M. Angell; Corresponding Secretary, Clara L. G. Fittz; Treasurer, Helen N. B. Janes; Auditors, Alice F. Porter, Mary R. Ballou; Chairman of Executive Committee, Elizabeth Upham Yates; Standing Committees --Chairmen; Education, Eleanor Green; Congressional work, Helen Dougherty; Legislation Elizabeth Upham Yates; Literature, Sarah E. Usher; Nomination of Officers, Eleanor R. Hood. Afternoon Session. The afternoon session was devoted to the address of President Yates, followed by Mrs. Valeria H. Parker, an active worker in Connecticut. Mrs. Parker gave an account of the great amount of work done in Connecticut and the methods employed. Her story was well and clearly told. She closed by declaring that to accomplish work salaries must be paid. Evening Session. The Evening Session was held in Manning Hall, 8 p.m. Mrs. Valeria H. Parker talked of her experience in helping young girls brought before courts and told of the difficulties met in attempts to punish men for offenses against these girls. Mrs. Maud Howe Elliot said that Rhode Island was a very progressive state and gave many interesting historic facts to prove her case. She said that Rhode Island held a high place in the march of progress. The November number of The Woman Citizen will be entirely in the hands of The Woman Suffrage Party of this state. As many of the workers of the party are college graduates, a fine treat may be expected. Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R.I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. :: :: :: :: :: 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-W Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and if the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. * * * *" -Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." -Constitution of Rhode Island. VOL. IX. RHODE ISLAND, NOVEMBER, 1913. NO. 11. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeanette Schouler French. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Tel. Pawt. 515. WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY EDITION (Courtesy of Mrs. Jeanette S. French.) Presidential Suffrage. Rhode Island women are asking the Legislature to empower them to vote at presidential elections. When Illinois a few months ago gave women the right to vote for President of the United States, it called nation-wide attention to the possibility of securing this important slice of suffrage by act of Legislature. Most people had supposed that an amendment to the constitution was necessary. Many suffragists, even, were unaware that the power to grant Presidential Suffrage was vested in the State Legislatures by the Constitution of the United States. The Woman's Journal has for many years called attention to the fact. The late Henry B. Blackwell was unwearied in urging the advantages of this method. Rhode Island suffragists have long been awake to its possibilities, and have been educating their State on the subject. It was a Rhode Island lawyer, the Hon. Edwin C. Pierce, who drew up a list of decisions showing its legality, and his argument has been used ever since, in every State where a Presidential Suffrage Bill has been under consideration. In substance, it is as follows: By the U. S. Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, the presidential electors from each State must be appointed "in such a manner as the Legislature thereof may direct." In the early history of the United States, there were several instances in which the State Legislatures themselves chose the presidential electors. This method was regularly followed in South Carolina up to and including the year 1860. On several occasions State Legislatures have passed regulations for the presidential election enabling persons to vote who, by the State Constitution, would have been debarred from voting; and the right of the State Legislatures to do this has always been upheld by the courts. Thus the Maine Legislature, on March 24, 1864, passed an act to enable soldiers who were absent in the field to vote for presidential electors; and the next day it submitted an amendment to the State Constitution to enable soldiers absent in the field to vote for State officers. The latter required a constitutional amendment; the former did not. New Hampshire (see public laws of 1864) passed a Soldiers' Voting Act for presidential electors, the legality of which was unanimously upheld by the State Supreme Court (45 N. H., p. 607), although the act was in conflict with the State Constitution. The Supreme Court took the ground that the question as to how the presidential electors should be chosen "is governed wholly by the Constitution of the United States as the paramount law, and the Constitution of this State has no concern with the question." The Vermont Supreme Court gave an opinion to the same effect (37 Vermont Appendix). The National House of Representatives also upheld the constitutionality of the Michigan Soldiers' Voting Act. More than twenty years ago the Michigan Legislature departed from the custom of having the presidential electors chosen upon a general ticket. It divided the State into electoral districts (and was accused of having gerrymandered it), each district to choose one elector. In Henry M. Field's work on Election Law, the Michigan case is well stated. The U.S. House of Representatives decided that the Michigan Constitution could not govern the matter, as the United States 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. November, 1913. Constitution gave the State Legislature absolute power over it. There are no decisions the other way. The Rhode Island Legislature has full power to take this action. By doing so it would place Rhode Island in the very forefront of the New England States. Ten States of the Union have given women the ballot already, and year by year the number grows. Even the opponents admit that equal suffrage is surely coming; it is only a question of time. Rhode Island was a leader in granting religious liberty. It would be most appropriate that she should lead New England also in granting political liberty to women. - A. S. B. Rhode Island Women Alert. By Sara M. Algeo, General Chairman Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Party. Rhode Island is keenly alive to the importance of equal suffrage for women. Nowhere is this interest shown more clearly than in the rather phenomenal growth of the Woman Suffrage Party. Since the inspiring talk of Mrs. Catt last May on the value of this form of political organization, over a thousand members have been enrolled; competent leaders and captains have been found for several of the districts in Providence, Pawtucket and Newport; so many demands for speakers and meetings have come in that they can scarcely be filled, and a fine group of women have come forth with the sacrificial spirit which makes them willing to do the hard, grimy work that, while it lacks the poetry or the fireworks of the big meeting, makes our politicians sit up and wonder whose head in their midst we have in mind for our first blow. Canvassing, teas, street meetings, Woman's Journal Day, bazaars and what not, indicate that the day of the parade is not far off, and when it comes it will not be a small one. Especially good work is being done by our colored people. Miss Helen Thomas, who called together the first Woman Suffrage Party meeting in District 3, has competent captains in Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Greene, both prominent in philanthropic work among the colored people. The Rhode Island Union of Colored Women, representing their race throughout the State, passed a resolution endorsing the suffrage movement and promising support. Our Swedish and Norwegian population is well informed on the question, and almost universally in sympathy. Miss Mary A. D. Brennan, a splendid type of the Irish-American college woman, and Mrs. Sara Fitz, a teacher from New York, have done excellent propaganda work, and have gained a strong constituency among the Irish-American group. And, much to our joy, our Jewish women are waking up, and, owing to their capable leaders, they are accomplishing good work. The general plan of work of the Woman Suffrage Party divides itself into three heads for the year 1913-1914: First, to maintain Headquarters. Excellent ones have already been started at 602 Jackson Building, on Westminster street, where everyone, especially helpers, will always be welcomed. Second: To open up as far as possible through good organizers the one hundred assembly districts of Rhode Island, and see them equipped with good leaders and captains. Third and most important: To leave no stone unturned to put through this year's Legislature the Presidential Suffrage Bill, which has been the goal of Rhode Island suffragists for more than twenty years. Rhode Island women are quite alive to the national importance of this measure at this time and are going in to win. Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst will speak in Infantry Hall, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. This meeting is under the auspices of the Woman Suffrage Party, and gives that organization an opportunity to add to its treasury. The tickets, reserved section, one dollar, admission 50 cents, may be obtained at the news stands, Providence Journal Building. Don't fail to hear Mrs. Pankhurst, and at the same time help swell our funds. We need the money. Mrs. Max Abelson is the agent of the W. S. P. for The Woman's Journal. She has already secured about 70 subscriptions. Make it possible for her to go to the Washington Convention by sending her your subscription before Nov. 15. Save your pennies for the big Rhode Island Suffrage Bazaar the second week in December. All offers of service and gifts will be gladly hailed at 602 Jackson Building. Donations. We are always glad to praise our friends. The Boston Store, R. L. Rose and the city newspapers have been very generous. Let others fall in line for this is to be a great Suffrage year and we need your generosity. November, 1913. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 National Suffrage Amendment. It is easy to see that some reasons exist for believing Congress will give heed to the demand of the woman suffragists for a national suffrage amendment. The National American Woman Suffrage Association is to assemble at Washington with the opening of the regular session of Congress and seek to induce the members of the two houses to pass a bill providing for the submission of the amendment. The number of States that allow women to vote on all questions is now so great that these women must be included in "the public" which Congressmen think of when they vote, and parties must regard in legislation affecting national election. - Providence Journal. The Fourth District of Providence, suffragists, have been doing considerable work during the last year, and their efforts have met with success. Parlor meetings have been held with good speakers, socials have been gotten up for the double purpose of swelling enthusiasm and also the treasury, and hundreds of people whose knowledge of suffrage was of the vaguest sort have received information and started, it is hoped, on the right road. The largest meeting held was in the Bethel Church, when Mrs. Maude Howe Elliot addressed the colored people, of whom there is a large element in this district. Plans are already on foot for the winter's work, and great things are confidently hoped for before the coming of spring. - Helen Thomas. The Woman Suffrage Party of Newport. The Woman Suffrage Party of Newport is still in its infancy but gives signs of a steady growth. In a talk given before the Newport County Equal Suffrage League in the late spring, Mrs. James W. Algeo advocated its formation and the matter simmered in the minds of interested workers until fall, when the real work in its upbuilding began. Mrs. Stanley McCormick, a leader in the Woman Suffrage Party of Boston, was very enthusiastic over the formation of a city organization in Newport. She has given us all the help in her power, including a contribution which enabled us to really start the work. A great deal of credit must be given, also, to Mrs. E. D. Draper. A little lady no longer young, with many duties and cares of her own, she possesses the most indomitable fund of enthusiasm and perseverance that it has ever been my good fortune to meet. She has been ready at all times to canvass and she doesn't forget to go back the second time to convince the doubting. We started our canvass in the third Assembly District and held our first meeting at the home of Mrs. Draper. Mrs. McCormick came and gave us an illuminating talk on the various aspects of the work. She is also sending us some literature to form a basis for a circulating library. With this meeting we felt we had really swung out into the current. To have begun is half the journey and we fully expect that the anniversary of our birth will show a well organized and flourishing organization. - Marion B. Hazard. Suggestions to Assembly Dist. Leaders. 1. Outline clearly to the Election District captains their duties and give to each a list of enrolled voters and a registration book. 2. Become conversant with entire data of your district. 3. Know the political situation and political leaders. 4. Secure printed lists of enrolled voters from the commissioner of elections. 5. Find out how ever voter stands on the Woman Suffrage Bill. 6. Increase your district enrollment by all legitimate means; canvassing, parlor meetings, street meetings, talks before factory groups, Trade Unions, Literary Clubs, Men's Clubs, Churches, Schools and other forms of human activity. 7. See that a report of every meeting goes into your local paper and send a marked copy to your assemblyman. 8. Send original list of signatures to Headquarters. Sara M. Algeo, Gen. Chairman. The sentiment among the Swedish and other Scandinavian people transplanted on these shores is tending more and more towards our cause. On June 21, this year, the Swedish Churches in Rhode Island celebrated a Swedish National Day in the open in Eden Park, R. I., when I distributed Woman's Suffrage literature among them, and found the Swedish women, and the men also, "up to date" concerning this subject. The Swedish Temperance Associations, including the International Temperance Organization, "Verdandi," as well as several other organizations, stand for Equal Suffrage for men and women. 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. November, 1913. The Norwegians usually stand for Equal Suffrage wherever they are to be found. There is a quickening spirit all round us. We need a strong, LIVE organization to organize and utilize all this awakened sentiment towards the consummation of civilization - EQUAL RIGHTS! Ingeborg Kindstedt. Suggestions from Mrs. Stanley McCormick of Boston to Rhode Island W.S.P. Workers. 1. Get blueprint maps made of (a) each assembly district and (b) each precinct of your city. Have a sufficient number of blue prints made so that each district leader and each precinct captain can have one, and so that you will have a complete copy, as well as a general map of the city, as your headquarters. Make the leaders and captains responsible for the maps you give them by telling them you cannot replace torn or lost prints. 2. Remember that as this plan is the military central control you (or the person in your place) are the center of the system - the leader. All lines must radiate from you and you must be prepared to be looked to for leadership and for guidance. The main object of the plan is to give everyone within its scope a task and to centralize the whole under one person or one committee. You are the one person. 3. As leader you should always have an aim - besides the task of enrollment and meetings- to offer to your workers. This aim should be a direct and political one. It is your business to acquaint your workers with the personality of the political representative of their district, go to see him with them, and make his views on suffrage known to all. If the representative of any assembly district is for suffrage, his co-operation and interest can be enlisted. The workers in such a district will be able, because of no opposition in their own district, to help those in a district where the representative is against suffrage. You should interview the mayor and get his views on this question. You should become acquainted personally and impersonally with the views on suffrage of all those officially connected with the municipal government and make them known familiarly to your workers. The more you make it personal, the more do you arouse the interest of your workers by making it a simpler issue more readily understood by them. Try to get the workers alive to the personality representing them politically so they will be interested in watching what he says and does and in criticizing it from the suffrage standpoint. 4. Your organization is non-dues-paying, therefore you must rely upon voluntary contributions or upon returns from tickets sold for meetings for your support. 5. In every district you must have a "leader." In every precinct a "captain." When you have found a "leader" in any assembly district help her to begin work by canvassing with her in order that she may find "captains" for her precincts. She must help these "captains" (and you must show her how) to begin their canvassing work, and she and probably you must canvass at first with all new workers to see that they do not get discouraged. The work is very slow and you must not press new workers. 6. See that every precinct has its card catalogue and if convenient keep this in your own office where the district leaders can come and catalogue the names on the cards which the precinct captains will bring to them from time to time. Do not require the captains to do the cataloguing. Have your district leaders do this, or do it yourself. 7. In "working up" a precinct it is best to begin with an informal little meeting at the assembly district leader's house. This meeting you and the leader will address, asking all to be present in that precinct whom you know and can get together. If you do not find any workers at that meeting, you must then trust to finding them in your house-to-house canvass. Sometimes it is necessary to begin with the house to house canvass rather than with the meeting. Then after you have stumbled onto some suffragists during your canvass you can invite them to a meeting at the leader's house. Every member of the Woman Suffrage Party should have a copy of this issue of the Woman Citizen. Sara M. Algeo Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R.I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-W Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. —Constitution of the United States "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." —Constitution of Rhode Island Vol. IX. Rhode Island, December, 1913. No. 12. THE WOMAN CITIZEN Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeannette Schouler French Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. [Tel. Pawt.515] The Woman Citizen apologizes to her readers for the delay in the publication of the present number caused by the illness of the editor. She will try to prevent another delay and hopes that the joys of the Christmas season have made the absence of the paper less noticed than it would otherwise have been. PROPHECIES. Mrs. Pankhurst prophisied lately that in a year and a half the suffragists of the United States would be militant. Anna Shaw says that suffragists in the United States will not be militant. The Woman Citizen says the situation depends on the men. Women have no wish to fight. A Year of Great Progress. The closing year marks the greatest progress ever known in the suffrage movement. Three new states and the territory of Alaska have given the ballot to women. These three new states and the territory of Alaska, added to the six free states previously ours, give us nine free states and one free territory. The great size of these new bodies also give much opportunity for homes for many thousands of people, men and women. The honor role at present in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, California, Arizona, Kansas, Oregon, Alaska, and Illinois. Rhode Island Gains. In our own state great progress has been made. We began the year with one suffrage society, The Rhode Island Suffrage Association, organized in 1869. We close it with three new societies, each large and doing more or less work and each having an established home. The Woman Suffrage Party is located on Westminster street. It holds a meeting each Tuesday at 10:30 o'clock. It has lately held a very successful fair in the Narragansett Hotel, of which we tell more in another column. The president of this party is Mrs. Sara Algeo of Providence. The Congressional Union has headquarters at 557 Westminster street. This society is working in connection with the Congressional Union which has its headquarters at Washington, D.C., under the leadership of Miss Alice Paul. Miss Paul is a very able and interesting person. She is the young lady who left a good home and went to England, where she struggled with the suffragettes for "Votes for Women." She was imprisoned and suffered much. The work of the Union Miss Paul is leading is to obtain the ballot through our national constitution. The Rhode Island leaders are Miss Kinstedt, Dr. Kinneburg and Miss Brennan. They hold meetings at the Woman's Forum on Westminster street. The third new body is the Woman Citizen's League. It has headquarters at 365 North Main street, Pawtucket, the office of the Woman Citizen. It is not well organized as yet. For particulars, inquire at their headquarters as above. RHODE ISLAND. Rhode Island was the first state to ask for suffrage for women in presidential elections. These petitions have been received, hearings have been given, but this partial suffrage has been many times denied. When asked why this suffrage is denied the reply is given: "We are afraid the Democrats will get into power if women vote." The world moves. The political situation is never for two years exactly the same. Perhaps the Republican party have lost power for want of the help women might have been to them. There is no way of telling how women will vote and the Woman Citizen never prophesies. it is hard to say how the granting of 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. December, 1913. suffrage to women in presidential elections will help the Republican or any other party to carry the state in the elections that intervene between the present time and the next national election. Our Yearly National Convention. Our year closes with the largest national convention we have ever had. About a thousand delegates and alternates gathered at Washington, D.C., and for one week discussed the present needs and reported the work done. After the convention a school of methods was held. Our International President, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, was present. Among the affiliated delegates was one from the Hawaiian Islands. To report this great gathering is impossible. No paper can do it fully. From time to time we may refer to the work of the convention. In this number we give an article by Mrs. Algeo, who was present as one of our delegates. The first large meeting of the convention was held on Sunday evening at the Columbia Theatre. Mr. Newman, president of the commission controlling the District of Columbia, presented as a brand new argument the evidence that from his experience women are always on the right side in seeking reforms. The only exception to this rule is that of the anti-suffragists in fighting suffrage measures. The subject of the Woman Worker and the Ballot was strikingly presented in three addresses by Mary Anderson, organizer for the National Women's Trade Union League; Margaret Hinchey, laundry-worker, and Rose Winslow, weaver. Mary Anderson read the resolution adopted by the National Women's Trade Union League, setting forth the reasons why the working woman needs the ballot. Margaret Hinchley in broad Irish brogue told how the women went to Albany to ask for votes and they were told about Cornelia and her jewels. She drew some most telling comparisons between Cornelia's jewels and the overworked sweat shop child. As she said in her excitement, the average salary of the working girl, $6 a week, was enough to "squinch the very life out of her." Rose Winslow made a wonderfully strong plea for the women with empty hands to line up with the working girls on the battle line to secure better wages and better working conditions. She said: "Working women will never go on a strike advocating Working Girls' Homes. Each person knows best his own needs and what the working girl wants is a chance to earn her own living in the right way. She spoke of the minimum wage as resembling a bag of oats for a horse - better than nothing, but not sufficient to satisfy the higher cravings. Senator Helen Ring Robinson of Colorado made an able speech. She said in part: "In legislation man's viewpoint does not consider the effect of laws upon the individual. Woman's viewpoint does. Government is moving toward social welfare - the ministering of strength to weakness. "The three c's (kitchen, church and children) have moved into legislative halls and taken with them the three d's (the dependants, defectives and delinquents)." Jane Addams, in a brief and vibrant speech, said: "We are on the eve of a new change in our conception of politics. The old economists had as a unit a lone man who was controlled by pangs of hunger and the desire to accumulate money. Now the unit is the man, woman and child, with overlapping desires. Social sympathy can be translated into political action and embodied into governmental legislation. Human life is to be treated with courtesy, with religious enthusiasm. Woman takes naturally a responsible place in such a scheme. "In great pioneer countries where life was bared to its basic principles, women had equal vote with men, given thus before men had time to become sophisticated as in the Dutch Republic of South Africa and in Finland and Iceland. "In our great social centres there is a tremendous basic and elemental program of social welfare. Here again women bear an equal and valiant part with men. When social sympathy is at last disentangled, men and women will march forward together." The Illinois victory on Monday night was particularly well handled by a remarkably brilliant group of women from that state with Jane Addams as the presiding officer. First came Kate Waugh McCulloch, with a face transparently beautiful, who gave in an impartial, generous recital the history of the fight in the past for suffrage in Illinois. Her figure of a relay race where one great suffragist after another struck the hands of her successor and sped her on to that goal which, while not yet attained in Illinois, is almost in sight, was carried out so well that workers past and present stood out in equal magnitudes of glory. Mrs. Grace Wilbur Trout, State President, spoke in general on this great human problem and she was followed by the "Big Four." December, 1913. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 Mrs. Marion Booth, the first of this group, described the "boxing" of the legislators and the means of gathering the full data about each one. They sent out four forms of letters and laid aside those in the absolute affirmative and those in the absolute negative. They called upon the constituency of the legislators in the middle class to educate him. Mrs. Medill McCormick, the daughter of Mark Hanna, showed how the women of Illinois are holding tight their victory by the defeat of Judge Patenbaugh this fall. They thus prevented the loss of the ballot through an adverse decision of the Supreme Court. Probably the day of the greatest interest in the whole convention was that of the hearing. What a wonderful group of suffrage leaders are ours, and how they shone before the Rules Committee. The question was the appointment by the Rules Committee of a special committee by the House to consider the question of Woman Suffrage and that was the question discussed and not the pros and cons of Woman Suffrage brought up by the Antis the next day. Each speaker had her own particular division of the subject. Mrs. Helen Gardiner, press manager of the Congressional Union, opened the hearing after Dr. Shaw had explained the simple rules governing it. Mrs. Ida Husted Harper proved from history that it is a question of sufficient national importance to demand a special committee. Jane Addams cited several instances in addition to the 15th amendment showing how the Federal government has determined the voting privileges of the individual: 1. Indians. 2. Confederate Soldiers. 3. Foreigners who fought in the Civil War. 4. Criminals. 5. Direct vote for Senators. 6. Immigrants who come to this country. 7. Wives of foreigners. 8. Case of Susan B. Anthony of Rochester in 1872, was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States and not by the New York courts, where Miss Anthony voted. Mrs. Desha Breckinbridge of Kentucky, a grand daughter of Henry Clay, gave an eloquent and inspired address showing how she, at least, though a Southern woman, was willing to waive the doctrine of State Rights for the good of the whole country. Judge Raker of California, who was the only man to speak at the hearing, advanced a strong line of argument to prove both the legality and the necessity of such a committee and Mrs. Mary Beard of New York, in a paper showing an enormous amount of research, put it directly up to the Democratic party as the issue upon which it would rise or fall in 1916. Mrs. Catt discussed it from the universal point of view, showing how it has become a parliamentary measure practically through the whole of Europe and that Turkey and the United States are the only countries where parliaments have refused to discuss the rights of their women. Far be it from me to disparage our National Representatives. I can only say that certain ones from the Southern States who took it upon themselves to question the data set forth by Jane Addams appeared dwarfish indeed by the giant strength of this great woman. Just one more public meeting - the last and in some ways the best - when Mrs. Catherine Houghton Hepburn and Mrs. Chapman Catt were the principal speakers. Mrs. Hepburn gave with clear and logical sequence the fight against commercialized vice by the women of Hartford. It was an eloquent story of a definite piece of work carried out in a definite way by women who do not wish to be protected at the expense of their weaker sisters and who realized that the same standard is for men and women alike. Sara M. Algeo. Woman Suffrage Bazaar. The Woman Suffrage Party held a very dainty bazaar at the Narragansett Hotel on the 16th, 17th, and 18th. The committee in charge was as follows: Chairman, Mrs. Esther Abelson; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Nettie E. Bauer; General Chairman, Sarah M. Algeo; Committee, Mrs. Fred Perry, Mrs. J. W. North, Miss Gertrude Lawson, Mrs. E. C. Smith, Mrs. Carroll Miller, Miss Margaret Dwight. The merchants of Providence were very liberal in their contributions and gave valuable suggestions concerning selling. Some of them were so kind as to put prices upon their contributions. The patronage each day was excellent. The committee specially requests that the names of the following helpers be mentioned. Misses Elizabeth Balcom, Jessie Cole, Enid Pierce, Secretary Thomas and Mesdames Bigney, Pearsoll, Davidson, Towne and French. The G. A. R. Interested. A very interesting meeting was lately held by a committee of girls from the Woman Suffrage Party at the headquarters of the Grand Army, Providence. The speaker of the evening was Miss Yates. The workers took 33 names for the Suffrage Party. 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. December, 1913. —————————————————————————————————————————— THE WOMEN OF TODAY. (To the tune of "Webb.") For liberty we're standing, We women of today ; For right and equal justice, We work as well as pray ; To raise our fallen sisters From degradation's dust, To make the world grow better, More free from pain and lust. We as of men the ballot, That we may have some say About the laws they're making ; Those laws we must obey, That govern home and children, The mother and the wife ; Equality and freedom For ev'ry walk in life. Let virtue be our watch-word, Nobility our shield ; For God and Home and Country, Is not that ample field Wherein we seek to labor ? And if we do our best, I think, beside our brothers, Our deeds will stand the test. Enid M. Pierce. ——————— A NOBLE GIFT. Is it a matter of great rejoicing that Mrs. Sarah F. Grant has given her fine homestead, 242 Broad street, for a home for a Young Woman's Christian Association in Central Falls. Best of all she has trusted the management entirely to women, thus showing her confidence in the ability and faithfulness of her own sex. The estate is located close to the new proposed railroad station, being nearly opposite, a fact that will recommend it to any thinking person at once as it will be convenient to young women arriving in the city on the trains. As stated, the large residence on the property, in which Mrs. Grant now resides, bears the number, 232 Broad street. The building is large and imposing, the rooms 15 in number, and large and airy throughout its three stories. There is a frontage to the estate of 66 feet, with a depth of 400 feet, and it extends back to Hawes street, with a frontage on the latter street of 252 feet. The entire tract has an area of 52,136 square feet. Back of the lot is a barn, and fronting on Hawes street is a large and fine-looking two-tenement house, all of which is included in the gift of Mrs. Grant, and the whole will be formally transferred just as soon as the organization secures its charter and has an authorized person or committee to receive it. The estate is located between Clay and Nickerson streets, and all the buildings are of wood. The committee on charter and other preliminaries consists of the following: Mrs. G. H. Fowler, chairman; Mrs. Charles O. Read, Mrs. H. W. Fitz, Mrs. John Johnson, Mrs. Charles Foster, Miss Edith Mann and Miss Fannie Kirk. ——————— NECROLOGY, 1912-1913. Nov. 16, 1912. Mrs. Rose Kellen Hallett, widow of Harrison Hallet, died in Washignton, D. C. Feb. 1, 1913. Mrs. Mary Owen Arnold, widow of Warren O. Arnold, died in Chepachet, R. I., in her 72nd year. Apr. 15, 1913. Mrs. Mary F. W. Homer, died in Providence, in her 71st year. Apr. 23, 1913. Mrs. Ellen M. O'Connor Calder, widow of Albert L. Calder, died in Providence. June 16, 1913. Mrs. Clara Fraser Delany, wife of Lyons Delany, of Pawtucket, died at Shawomet Beach, in her 65th year. 1913. Mrs. Isaac C. Manchester, died in Providence. ——————— Dean Sumner of the Episcopal Cathedral Chicago, will speak in Sayles Hall, January 26, at 8 o'clock. Subject: "Some Social and Civic Problems." The lecture is free. ——————— Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association, regular meetings, Recital Hall. Butler Exchange: January 8. Mrs. Ella McCaffrey, The Modern Egyptian Woman. Music: Songs, Miss Lillian Louise Simester. February 12. Mrs. Camillo Von Klenze, The Modern German Woman. Music. March 12. Mrs. Alfred Lustig. The Modern Russian Woman. Music. The public is cordially invited. Executive Committee Meeting, 2:30 P. M. —————————————— Chronicle Printing Co. —PAWTUCKET, R. I.— One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. :: :: :: :: :: 29 North Main Street. Telephone 768-W Pawt. [page break] THE WOMAN CITIZEN ——————————————————————————————————— "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States. * * * *" —Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." —Constitution of Rhode Island. ——————————————————————————————————— VOL. X. RHODE ISLAND, FEBRUARY, 1914. NO. 2. ——————————————————————————————————— [photo of a house with trees in front and a fence around it with the below caption] Our Picture. Our picture to-day represents the home of the editor of the Woman Citizen, 365 North Main street, Pawtucket. The office of The Woman Citizen is in the rear of the front door. Many suffrage meetings have been held here in the house and back yard. The trees are much larger now. ——————————————————————————————————— Today and Yesterday. By G. Colmore. The man, walking down the street, smiled. He was very happy, very much in love; so much that he was prepared to sacrifice his bachelor independence, his bachelor privileges, and put his neck, as he expressed it, into the noose of marriage. And she, this girl who had charmed him, was equally in love with him. He know: though she had asked for time to think over her answer, he had no doubts as to what that answer, he had no doubts as to what the answer would be. For he had seen the love-light in her eyes, and in the matter of love-light he was an expert. It had been one of his sweetest pastimes to bring it into the eyes of women, to see it dawn and grow and shoot up into flame, to manoeuvre [????] 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. February, 1914. passages of tenderness, of regret, of sentiment unuttered but implied, and then to pass on to fresh fields and pastures new. He had no wish to pass on now. She had captured him, he admitted, and there was joy in the admission; he even looked forward to saying at the club that he was caught at last. He was almost impatient that he must wait until the day after to-morrow to make the news public; though the waiting lent piquancy to his sacrifice (for it was a sacrifice, after all), though the coquetry which had prompted the delay was part of the delicious faculty for pretending which he reckoned among the charms of women. To be sure she had not looked coquettish when she asked for time to think the matter over; her eyes had been almost troubled, but that was part of her art; inasmuch as she was dearer than other women, she was also cleverer, subtler, less crude, and she was going to maintain the pose she had taken up right to the end. It quite suited her, that pose of independence, and she was absolutely charming when she championed the cause of women and declared her sympathy with it. He laughed softly to himself, hearing in advance the whispered assurance that he was more to her than any cause, foreseeing how her independence would lapse and the forces of her being pour themselves into loving and the longing for his love; knowing the nature of women, he knew that the pose would be cast aside once and forever when he took her in his arms the day after tomorrow. She was very pale and there were dark lines below her eyes. Poor child! How foolish of her to have insisted upon this waiting time! Had she thought perhaps that he would change his mind in the interval, draw back? It had been his way, of course, with other women; but not now with this woman. She appealed to him strongly in her pathetic admission of his power over her, and he was secretly flattered at her failure in the part she had set herself to play. He moved towards her with all the tenderness that he was able to convey in eyes and voice, but she put out her hands to hold him back. "No," she cried, "I'm sorry, but - " She broke off and began again. "Marriage between you and me would be a mistake." "A mistake! But don't you - " He came nearer to her. "Oh, but you do love me!" "Yes, I love you in the sense of being in love, and if I were to marry you I would be, for a short time, quite radiantly happy. But love - that sort of love - wouldn't be enough - not for always, I mean; and even motherhood doesn't last forever, in the sense of being an absorption or a tie; children grow up and go out in the world. By and bye I should want something else, something more than just you and my home; and you are not the man to let me have it." So it was the old pose of independence! Easy enough to win her over if that was all. "Dear child," he said, "you shall do exactly as you like when you belong to me, but I think you will find that love and marriage will give you all the interests you need." She shook her head. "You are thinking of Byron's words. But the days when Byron wrote, the day when what he said was true, is a day that has gone by. Love is no longer woman's existence; it's only part of it, just as it is only a part of man's; and I have ambitions, interests, ideals, that I find I can't give up." "I would teach you how to forget them." Again she shook her head. "That would be worst of all. But I doubt if even you could take their place - for more than a time." "Just let me try." His voice was a caress. "The trial would mean the sacrifice of my freedom. Oh, I mind the giving it up - my love for you and your love for me. There is a part of me that cries out for you, and I - I have been near to giving in to it. But the other part, the part that is silent now, would come to the fore again, and I cannot marry a man who would neither acknowledge nor accept it." He was looking at her with drawn brows. "I - I really don't understand." "No, that's just it. And you never would." "I thought you were a - a normal woman." February, 1914. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 "So I am. I am typical, but not an abnormality. I belong to a type that is not unusual and is becoming more and more usual every day." "In God's name," he cried, "what is your type? - for I confess I have never met it." "Or meeting it, have passed it by. But I am everywhere; there are many of me. I am simply a woman of today." Votes for Women. Editorial. An Explanation. The Woman Citizen apologizes to her subscribers for the delay in the issuing of the present number of the paper, which has been caused by an accident. She will try to make up for the delay by extending each subscription one month. She also wishes to call attention to the story published in this number which deals with the words of Lord Byron. "Man's love is of man's life a thing apart, 'Tis woman's whole existence." The story is copied from the English magazine, "Votes for Women." Now. Now is the day and now is the hour to work for woman suffrage, to work heartily with expectation of victory in the near future. To expect to gain hundreds to your standard where you have previously won tens. To find yourself working not with elderly women only, but associated with the beauty and the enthusiasm of youth as well. The girls of today are thinking more of being somebody than of marrying somebody. The Woman Suffrage Party. The Woman Suffrage Party is the thought of our International President, Mrs. Catt. It is proposed to place woman suffrage on a par with other reforms by giving it a party standing, even though a majority of its supporters are women and non-voters. Mrs. James Algeo of Providence is the leader in this form of organization and great hope is felt that the party will have the success it has attained in New York. Work in this line will begin in Pawtucket, March 16, in the New Idea Store, where space hase been given the party for a week. The program follows, but many other speakers are expected. 16 - Miss Emily Perry of Washington, D.C. 17 - Mrs. George F. Rooke, President of the W. C. T. U., Providence. 18 - Miss M. E. Orgleman, Bristol. 19 - Miss Elizabeth U. Yates, President of R. I. Suffrage Association. 19 - Evening - Mrs. Carl Barus. 20 - Miss Darian B. Hanford, Boston. 21 - Afternoon - Miss Althea Hall, Pawtucket. 21 - Evening - Mrs. Camillo von Klenze, Providence. The Matriarchy. Rule of the mother, a supposed earliest form of family type, typical of primitive society in which the father is unknown. Mother took precedence of father in line of descent and inheritance. Universal (assumed to be) in prehistoric times; did not imply personal power, but made women sole relatives of their children and the center of family life. This custom of tracing descent through the mother is still observed in certain savage tribes. In Fiji, father and son are not related. Among Becheranas, chieftainship goes to a brother, not to a son. In Senegal, Loango, Congo, Guinea, relationship is traced throught the female. Among Tuareg Berbert, a child takes its rank (freeman or slave) from its mother. Guardianship of children is the hands of the maternal uncle. Nephew succeeds mother's brother in rank and property. Polyandry usually makes kinship and inheritance through the female line. The extreme complexity of social problems and the perils of hasty speculation makes this topic, matriarchy, an indefinite and rather unsatisfactory one. Encyclopedia Britttanica. 4 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. February, 1914. The Call. The Official Board of the National Woman Suffrage Asociation hereby issues a Call to the suffragists of the country, to rally at an open-air mass meting on the second day of May, 1914, in every city, village and hamlet from the Atlantic to the Pacific, to respond to a trumpet blast by singing a song of suffrage faith and by adopting a nation-wide resolution, to be presented to the Congress of these United States calling upon Congress to meet the demand of the American women for political fredom. Anna Howard Shaw. President. Jane Addams, 1st Vice-President, Mrs. Desha Breckinridge, 2nd Vice-Pres. Caroline Ruutz-Rees, 3rd Vice-President. Susan W. FitzGerald, Rec. Secretary. Mary Ware Denett, Cor. Secretary. Katherine Dexter McCormick, Treasurer. Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, 1st Auditor. Mrs. Joseph Tilton Bowen, 2nd. Auditor.. The hymn is now being composed by one of America's ablest writers and will be printed and sent to you at an early date for general distribution. The expense of printing and distribution will be borne by the National Association. Enclosed is a copy of the Call, which please have printed in all your local papers as soon as possible. Should any organizations in your state desire to make further demonstration on that day, in the way of parades, festivals, banquets, or celebrations of any nature, they are, of course, urged to do so. This demonstration will be further strnegthened by the parades planned in various states which at the suggestion of the Congressional Union will be held simultaneously. If there are localities in your State where there are relatively few suffragists, as yet unorganized, who desire to parcipitate in Suffrage Day celebrations, will you communicate with us concerning them at your very earliest opportunity, as some plan wil be worked out to meet this demand. Faithfuly yours, ANNA H. SHAW, President Clergyman--Wilt thou take this woman for they wedded wife? Prospective Bridegroom--Well, wot d'yer think I come here fur? "What does your father do fore a living?" asked one little girl. "Why," replied the other, "he takes up the collection in church." THE WOMAN CITIZEN. Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeannette Schouler French. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Chronicle Printing Co. PAWTUCKET, R. I. One of our specialties is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-W Pawt. THE WOMAN CITIZEN "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the Unites States and the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." --Constitution of the United States. "Civil Incapacitations tend to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness." --Constitution of Rhode Island. VOL. X. RHODE ISLAND, JANUARY, 1914. No. 1. A Good Beginning. The year has certainly begun well for woman suffrage. We have four societies now working instead of one and the leagues are alive. Again has an act for suffrage for women in presidential elections been entered in both houses of our General Assembly and this act has been referred in each case to the Committee on Judiciary. Excellent meetings have been held and woman suffrage has become a rousing, wide awake question. We long since aroused the anti-suffragists and they opened a room in Providence to offset us if they can. They have all the liquor saloons and all the brothels on their side and these institutions seems to be the force that often has the balance of power in our elections. Everyone says woman suffrage is sure to come, but many do not raise a finger to help it along. They talk as if they felt no more responsibility than they feel for the weather. Systematic work is needed and when the woman suffrage party is well organized we shall get it. Let us stick to the main point which is organization and every organized person doing something to help every day or every week. It is not the great deeds that pave the way to victory. It is the little ones of every day life that make the great ones possible. The "Woman Citizen" will be delighted to report this work if it is sent in. Let Mrs. A. write that she has secured one new member. Let Mrs. B. state that she has mailed a suffrage leaflet to a friend near or far. Let Mrs. C. talk with a member of the General Assembly. Let Mrs. D. wear a suffrage badge or button. Let Mrs. S, post a notice reading like this, "Minors, aliens, idiots, lunatics, criminals and women vote." Do something systematically. For right, for truth, for justice, for better material conditions, for better moral conditions we should place women by the side of men in political life. The position of women is wondrously improved since our state gave married women the right to own their own personal belongings, since they gave married women the right to hold property. Work, work, work. Why We Ask for Suffrage in Presidential Elections. We ask for suffrage in Presidential elections because that form of suffrage can be obtained under United States law. The president and the vice-president of the United States are elected according to the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution leaves the matter not to the people of the different states but to the legislatures of the states. It is easier to carry a legislature than to carry a state, and the work of dealing with the smaller number of people all gathered in one place is not as expensive as campaigning for full suffrage would be. A second reason is that a vote for our two highest officers does not stir up as much local antagonism as would a vote for state officers. A vote for president and vice-president would help women to get votes in state elections. Men might be led to see the value of woman in politics. The men of the West have welcomed women. 2 THE WOMAN CITIZEN. January, 1914. Work Needed at Once. The most immediate need in suffrage work at present is to strengthen ourselves in the opinion of our legislators. Every suffragist should get acquainted with her senator and her representatives. She should call on them at their homes or at the state house. Tell them that she wishes to vote. Call on their wives and talk with them. Get them interested in their country, their city, their town, their schools. Any woman who does this will learn much from the people she meets and leave some good thoughts behind her, although she may not be aware of the fact. Our Work in Washington. After a session lasting two full days, the official board of the Congressional Union announces that the work of the Federal Amendment will be pushed with all possible speed. It has been founded necessary to divide the work into departments, with experienced workers heading each division. Miss Lucy Burns will have charge of the legislative department; Miss Bessie Barkley of the Literature; Mrs. Rheta Dorr continues as editor-in-chief of "The Suffragist" and Mrs. Martha Pier Tagg as business manager. Miss Emily K. Perry has been engaged as an additional organizer for Washington. The Press Department is being rapidly reorganized under Mrs. Jessie Hardy Stubbs, with a press chairman for every state in the union. A committee of 100 is working with Mrs. William Kent to raise an expense fund for the Congressional Union in California. Jubilant and merry, yet grimly determined, the District members of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage met at the home of Mrs. William Kent on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock. The program was significant. Miss Alice Paul, the Chairman, reviewed the work of the past year; the pilgrimages to Congress; the deputations to the President; the mass meeting and the various campaigns throughout the country, and followed the review with an amazing forecast for the coming year. It is the intention of the Congressional Union to redouble the energy expended during 1913. This will be seen by the big events which will follow one another in rapid succession. First on the list will be the deputation on the 31st day of January of 100 working women coming from various states, who will wait upon the President, and urge the passage of a Federal Amendment giving the suffrage to women. On February 20th the Columbia Theatre has been engaged for an afternoon of mirth. The brilliant farce by Cicely Hamilton, "How the Vote Was Won," will be given and followed by a gambol. The purple, white and gold of the Union will be used in the weaving dances of the gambol. During February, George Lansbury will be heard under the auspices of the Union. On the 31st a national mass meeting will be held in Washington just preceding a great May Day Parade on the 1st of May in the capital. This time it is expected delegates from all the states will come to take part as a result of the nation wide demonstration which will take place on the 25th of April. Congress will be besieged. The work in Congress will be pushed with all possible speed under the able direction of Miss Lucy Burns. A rapid fire campaign of publicity will be continued through the press bureau. Every hamlet will be familiar with the propaganda for the Federal Amendment. A very pretty ceremony occurred at the close of Miss Paul's address. Mrs. William Kent, with very appropriate words presented a silver loving cup to Miss Paul from the Congressional Union, the 11th of January being Miss Paul's birthday. It bore the simple inscription, "The Congressional Union to Alice Paul, January 11, 1914," in keeping with her Puritan ideals. The gift was followed by an ovation on the part of the audience. An Englishman who has the courage of his convictions is George Lansbury, former Labor member of the House of Commons. Mr. Lansbury has been travelling in the January, 1914. THE WOMAN CITIZEN. 3 United States, speaking principally in behalf of the militant movement for woman suffrage in England. He is a tremendous admirer of Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, and says that when the women of England get the ballot it will be due to the militant movement, not only this but he maintains that when the women of this country get the ballot it will be because Mrs. Pankhurst and Mrs. Pethick Lawrence have shown the way. It is the opinion of George Lansbury that the suffrage question was never really alive in this country until the militants made their appearance in England. The deputation of working women, which was announced would wait on President Wilson on the 31st of January, has been postponed until the 2nd of February. Mrs. Mary Beard, who is doing the organization work in New Jersey and New York is meeting with remarkable success among the members of the various unions, and it is expected that women from all over the United States will desire to join this band. Mrs. Katherine H. Hepburn, President of the Connecticut Association is arranging for the deputation of working women from that state, and Mrs. Lawrence Lewis is organizing the deputation in Pennsylvania; Miss Mabel Vernon in Delaware and Mrs. Donald Hooker, in Maryland. The Congressional Union expects that President Wilson will at this time make a much more definite statement than he did on the 3rd of January. The Congressional Union points with significance to the fact that a monopoly of power is in the hands of the minority not only in Congress but in the committees. Word is coming in from all the industrial states to Congressional Union headquarters that the number of delegates to join in the working women's deputation on the 2nd of February is rapidly increasing. Miss Rose Schneidermann, V. P. of the Women's Trade Union League, will be here to speak and to represent the white goods workers. Miss Margaret Hinchey, Presi- dent of the Laundry Workers Union of New York City, will be the spokeman of the deputation. Miss Hinchey, with her delicious Irish brogue, is a sure vote-getter, and it is hoped that the President will find her as irresistible as most audiences do. Rose Winslow, the weaver, will interrupt her lecture tour, to be present on this occasion. Delegates are coming from Paterson and Newark, N. J., to represent the silk weavers. The Misses Elsie and May Casey, of Bridgeport, Conn., are bringing a delegation from their state. Miss Anna Bercowitz, of the Baltimore Women's Trade Union League, will send a large delegation of factory workers. The New York, New Jersey and Connecticut delegations will arrive in a body Sunday afternoon at 4:20 o'clock. They will be met by members of the Congressional Union, who with decorated motor cars will escort them to the reception given to the incoming delegates, at the Brighton. Distinguished members of the Department of Labor and men in Congress, who have been identified with the Labor Movement in the country, will be in the receiving line. Hon. William Wilson, Secretary of Labor, Hon. Louis Post, Asst. Secretary of Labor, will speak. An effort is being made by the Congressional Union to get a decision from the Democratic caucus, in regard to the resolution to create a woman suffrage committee, the Congressional Union being unwilling to take the decision of the Rules Committee as final. A Woman Suffrage procession will take place in Washington, D. C., on the afternoon of Monday, March 3rd, under the auspices of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the Suffrage Societies of the District of Columbia. The procession has been planted for this time in order to take advantage of the host of spectators who will be gathered here from all parts of the country. Many will come from places where the suffrage movement is still weak. A great demonstration of strength, such as a procession affords, 4 the woman citizen. January, 1914. will probably do more than any other one thing to spread the suffrage cause in these regions. Woman Suffrage Party. Instead of the usual Tuesday morning meeting a special meeting will be held Tuesday evening, February 3, 1914, at 602 Jackson Building, at 8 o'clock. The Woman Suffrage Party. The Woman Suffrage Party is a political organization conducted on the lines of the other political parties. Any person, man or woman, twenty-one years of age can join it. It is the thought of Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, President of the World's Woman Suffrage Party. This Party is a great success wherever it is tried. It has officials of the same title as other parties. Mrs. James Algeo is at the head of the party in Rhode Island. Headquarters at number 602 Jackson building, Providence. Mrs. Camila Von Klenze suspect in Recital Hall, Butler Exchange, on February 12, at 3 P. M. Subject, "The modern German Woman." Music. The meeting is open. An Important Word to all Loyal Suffragists. The Presidential Suffrage Bill has been presented in both Houses of our Rhode Island Legislature. NOW is the time to ask a Representative or Senator by letters, telegrams or interviews to support this bill. Also URGE your friends, especially the VOTERS, to do the same. sara m. algeo, General Chairman. He – Could you be contented with love in a cottage? She-Yes, dear, if what we saved in the size of the house could be put into an automobile. There's a kings glory and being right And a splendor and being true, That is greater than anything else Life can possibly bring to you The Paradox of Time. (By Austin Dobson.) (From the Pawtucket Times). Time goes, you say? Ah no! Alas, Time stays, we go; Or else, were this not so, What need to chain the hours, For Youth were always ours Time goes, you say?-ah no! Ours is the eyes' deceit Of men whose flying feet Lead through some landscape low; We pass and think we see The earth's foxed surface flee– Alas, Time stays-we go! Once in the days of old, Your locks were curling gold, And mine had shamed the crow. Now, in the self-same stage, We've reached the silver age; Time goes, you say? –Ah no! See, in what traversed ways, What backward feet delays The hopes we used to know; Where are our old desires?– Ah, where those vanished fires? Time goes, you say?-ah no! How far, how far, O sweet, The past behind our feet Lies in the even-glow! Now, on the forward way, Let us fold hands and pray; Alas, Time stays-we go! the woman citizen. Published monthly. Editor, Mrs. Jeanette Schouler French. Office, 365 North Main Street, Pawtucket. Chronicle Printing Co. pawtucket, r. i. One of our specialities is papers of this class. Write us for estimates of cost. 29 North Main Street. Telephone 268-W Pawt. Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage SUSAN B. ANTHONY AMENDMENT:—THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES TO VOTE SHALL NOT BE DENIED OR ABRIDGED BY THE UNITED STATES OR BY ANY STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SEX. Wednesday, June 2, 1915, Ballroom of the Inside Inn Panama Pacific Exposition Speakers from Countries where there is Equal Suffrage NEW ZEALAND—Equal suffrage 1893.......MR.EDMUND CLIFTON Commissioner for New Zealand AUSTRALIA—Equal suffrage 1902........MR. J. A. ROBERTSON Commissioner for Queensland THE ISLE OF MAN—Equal suffrage 1902.......MRS. HEMINGWAY HUNT FINLAND—Equal suffrage 1906.......ROUVA MAYI MAKI NORWAY " 1907.......COUNTESS GIANNINI (Dr. Martha Thorwick) ICELAND " 1909.......MR. JOHN HOLME CHINA " 1911.......MRS. CHEN CHI SWEDEN " 1912.......MRS. IDA HANSEN DENMARK " 1915.......MRS. HOLM Speakers from the States where there is Equal Suffrage WYOMING—Equal Suffrage 1869.......MISS DOROTHY MORRELL COLORADO " 1893.......MISS GAIL LAUGHLIN UTAH " 1896.......MRS. V. H. PEASE IDAHO " 1896.......MRS. ROBERT LEE MORSE WASHINGTON " 1910......MRS. T. .M. REED CALIFORNIA " 1911..... MRS. ELIZABETH GERBERDING OREGON " 1912......MRS. THOMAS HAILEY ARIZONA " 1912......MRS. L. C. HUGHES KANSAS " 1912......MRS. EFFIE HYATT VAN TUYL MONTANA " 1914......MRS. GRACE FISK BILLINGS NEVADA " 1914.....MISS ANNE MARTIN The territory of Alaska—where there is Equal Suffrage, 1912 MRS. MARY E. HART, with Aruksok (Out-of-doors), an Esquimaux girl, and KAR-KAR-UTCH, South Alaska Indian Eastman & Co. 220 Kearny St. SUFFRAGE SONG To be sung to the tune of "AMERICA." My country 'tis for thee, To make your women free, This is our plea. High have our hopes been raised In these enlightened days That for her justice, praised Our land might be. My native country thee; Grant us equality ! Then shall we see In this fair land of light Justice and truth and right Ruling, instead of might, Trust liberty! Our fathers' God, to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King. Battle Hymn of the Republic By Julia Ward Howe Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on. I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel; "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since God is marching on." He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me; As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on. March for Victory Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 P.M. THIS MEANS YOU All friends, men and women, invited to join the greatest Suffrage Demonstration ever seen in Massachusetts. Sign the attached Pledge and mail to PARADE HEAD QUARTERS, 587 Boylston St., Boston, or join at the last moment, corner of Charles and Beacon Streets, Men's Section at Berkeley and Marlborough Streets. No special costume required; JUST COME. I will march in MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN SUFFRAGE VICTORY PARADE NAME Mr. Mrs. Miss....................................................................... (Please do not use initials. Write name in full.) Address................................................................. City or Town......................................................... Section of parade, by Home city or town................................................ Occupation............................................................ (Nurses, lawyers, social workers, etc.) Gertrude H. Leonard Teresa A. Crowley 15 Suggestions to the Women Voters of Rhode Island Rhode Island Suffrage Party "No American should forget that it was our country that carried the banner of democracy into the war and that the armies, military and civilian, were organized under it, inspired and upheld by it and that logical consistency now points out that it is the obvious duty of the nation which mobilized its man power and its woman power to make the world safe for democracy, to mobilize them once more to make 'democracy safe for the world.'" CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT CONTENTS Page Foreword . . . . . . . . . . 3 Presidential Suffrage Bill . . . . . . . 4 PART1-WOMEN WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS Why You Need to be Citizens . . . . 6 Who May Become Citizens . . . . . 6 How to Become Citizens . . . . . . . 7 Where to Become Citizens . . . . . 11 Preparation for Citizenship . . . . . 12 Questions and Answers in Final Examination for Coming Citizens . . . . . . . . 17 PART II-WOMEN WHO ARE CITIZENS How You Can Aid in the Work of Americanization 21 Registration . . . . . . . . . . 26 Statistics on the Population of Rhode Island 28 Form of Ballot . . . . . . . . . 14 Prepared by SARA M. ALGEO Rhode Island Chairman of Americanization of the National American Woman Suffrage Association Price, 15 Cents FOREWORD After a heroic struggle of more than fifty years the women of Rhode Island have become voters through the passage of the Presidential Suffrage Bill by the General Assembly of 1917 which gives them the right to vote for Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States of 1920. Judging from the rapidity with which suffrage has spread throughout the world the past year we are confident that all women in the United States will have full power of franchise by that time; therefore, it is the part of wisdom to anticipate it by preparation. For convenience I have divided "Suggestions to the Women Voters of Rhode Island" into two parts--the first for the women of foreign birth who have not yet taken out full citizenship papers; the second for those who are already American citizens by naturalization or who were so fortunate as to be born into it as a heritage. I would especially importune this second group to make the problems of our less fortunate sisters our own and lose no opportunity to assist them in overcoming the obstacles lying in their way to full citizenship. Friendly bonds of common interests, of a common language, and of mutual regard and understanding must be established among all nationalities if we are to advance the growth of the true American spirit. "A square deal" for the foreign-born woman whose lot has been unnecessarily difficult on account of existing conditions should be the primary consideration for the woman voter. SARA M. ALGEO The Presidential Suffrage Bill Passed by the General Assembly of 1917. AN ACT in Amendment of and in Addition to Chapter 17 of the General Laws, entitled, "Of the Election of Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States." It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: Section 1. Section 1 of Chapter 17 of the General Laws, entitled, "Of the election of electors of president and vice-president of the United States," is hereby amended so as to read as follows: "Section 1. The people of this state qualified by law to vote for general officers, also every woman citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who has had her residence and home in this state for two years, and in the town or city in which she may offer to vote six months, next preceding the time of her voting, and whose name shall be registered as hereinafter provided in the town or city where she resides on or before the last day of June next preceding the time of her voting, shall elect by ballot so many electors of president and vice-president of the United States as the state is or shall be entitled to, at town, ward and district meetings, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year, commencing A. D. 1920, and the several candidates having a plurality of the legal votes given in at such election shall be electors: Provided, however, that no woman citizen of foreign birth shall be entitled to vote unless she has resided in the United States five years." Sec. 2. Said Chapter 17 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: "Sec. 9. The registration of women citizens entitled to vote under this act, and the preparation, canvassing and correction of the voting lists thereof, shall be had in the same manner and at the same time and places, and under the same liabilities and penalties as is provided by law for the registration, and for the preparation, canvassing and correction of the lists of voters, qualified to vote for general officers: Provided, that every woman of foreign birth so registering, who shall claim citizenship through some other person, either by marriage or parentage, shall state at the time of her registration, when and where such other person was born, and if such other person was naturalized, when, where and by what court such other person was naturalized, and she shall file proof of such naturalization as may be necessary to establish her citizenship with the town clerk or the clerk of the board of registration, as the case may be, at least five days before any meeting of the board of canvassers of the town or city in which she claims the right to vote, and such proof shall be subject to the approval of such board of canvassers; and provided, further, that in preparing the lists of voters entitled to vote at any election of electors 4 of president and vice-president of the United States, the name of all women citizens entitled to vote thereat shall be arranged on said lists separate and apart from the names of the other voters entitled to vote at such election under a heading, 'List of women voters entitled to vote for electors of president and vice-president of the United States.' "Sec. 10. There shall be provided for the use of women citizens entitled to vote under this act a special ballot which shall be printed on paper of a color that will readily distinguish it from the ballots provided by the secretary of state for the use of voters entitled to vote for general officers. Such special ballot shall contain only the names of the several candidates for electors of president and vice-president of the United States and shall be endorsed in plain black type, 'Special ballot for electors of president and vice-president only,' but in all other respects said special ballot shall be similar in form and arrangement and the instruction and information printed thereon, to the ballots required to be provided by the secretary of state under the provisions of Chapter 11 of the General Laws, except as herein otherwise provided, the laws relating to the preparation, furnishing and delivery of the ballots required to be provided by the secretary of state for the use of voters qualified to vote for general officers, shall also apply to the preparation and furnishing of the special ballot herein provided for, and their delivery to the election officers of the several town and district meetings. "Sec. 11. Except as herein otherwise provided, the provisions of Chapter 20 of the General Laws, entitled, 'General provisions concerning elections,' and the provisions of all other laws relating to the conduct of elective meetings, and to the time and place of voting and to the manner and methods of marking, depositing and counting the ballots provided by the secretary of state for the use of voters entitled to vote for general officers, shall also apply to the time and place of voting, and to the manner of marking, depositing and counting the special ballots herein provided for the use of women citizens, and to the exercise or the attempt to exercise by women citizens of the elective franchise conferred by this act. "Sec. 12. Any moderator, warden, clerk or supervisor who shall furnish a woman claiming the right to vote under the provisions of this act with any ballot other than the ballot herein prescribed for her use, or shall permit her to deposit in the ballot box at any elective meeting at which she may claim the right to vote, any ballot other than the special ballot herein prescribed for her use, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not more than three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment." Sec. 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect upon its passage. 5 PART I WOMEN WHO ARE NOT CITIZENS WHY YOU NEED TO BE CITIZENS Possibly becoming a citizen has not been suggested to you before as we admit the State has not wholly realized your importance in the past; but all that has now changed and in the future the woman with the vote will be quite as important as the man with the vote and the baby in the cradle will be most important of all, so we must all bestir ourselves to make ready for him or her whose sex will not matter at all but whose character will matter very much indeed in the conduct of the world. Now that women have become an integral part of the Commonwealth of Rhode Island we urge you, if you have not already done so, to become citizens at your earliest opportunity. It is not necessary to point out the advantages of citizenship; they are too obvious to mention. Suffice it to say that Rhode Island needs you and you need Rhode Island not alone for the protection she affords your person and your property but for the feeling of self-confidence and self-respect it affords to become a member of a family instead of remaining a mere outsider or visitor. You need to be a citizen for the sake of your own development and for the sake f the generations yet unborn of which you are the custodians. Motherhood is sacred; at its best, it becomes divine. WHO MAY BECOME CITIZENS The Married Woman The citizenship of a married woman depends upon that of her husband. His naturalization makes her a citizen as it does also their children of foreign birth residing in this country at the time of his naturalization under twenty-one years of age. According to the Presidential Suffrage Bill in order to vote she must have been a resident of the United States for five years; and like other women citizens must have had her residence and home in this State for two years, and in the town 6 or city in which she may offer to vote six months next preceding the time of her voting. She also like other women voters must register. It would be well for her to note especially the clause in the Presidential Suffrage Bill which says, "Provided that every woman of foreign birth so registering, who shall claim citizenship through some other person, either by marriage or parentage, shall state at the time of her registration, when and where such other person was born, and if such other person was naturalized, when and by what court such other person was naturalized and she shall file prof of such naturalization as may be necessary to establish her citizenship with the town clerk or the clerk of the board of registration, as the case may be, at least five days before any meeting of the board of canvassers of the town or city in which she claims the right to vote, and such proof shall be subject to the approval of such board of canvassers." The Single Woman Any foreign-born woman who is unmarried may become naturalized by the same process which applies to men, according to the following extract from the Naturalization Regulations relating to the naturalization of women. "Naturalization papers may be legally filed by any unmarried woman who is otherwise qualified, or by the widow of a foreign- born person not naturalized, but not by a woman during the existence of the marital relation." The widow or children of a man who made his declaration of intention to become a citizen, but who died before completing the process, may be naturalized without making a new declaration for themselves. The widow or children of a man who became insane after making his declaration have a similar privilege. HOW TO BECOME CITIZENS There are two main steps in the process of becoming a naturalized citizen. We speak of them as getting the first and second papers. The first step is to make what is called a declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States. The second step is to obtain the final certificate of 7 naturalization through filing a petition for admission to citizenship and satisfying the investigation made by the Bureau of Naturalization examiners and the examination made by the judge at a hearing in the open court. The Declaration of Intention In order to make her declaration of intention the applicant goes to the court and obtains from the clerk a blank form called, "Facts for Declaration of Intention." She may fill out the form there or take it home and fill it out at her leisure. The applicant must be eighteen years of age or over. There is a fee of one dollar. She may apply for this paper on her arrival in this country. BLANK FORM OF DECLARATION OF INTENTION Invalid for all Purposes Seven Years After the Date Hereof. ................................................. } In the..................................... Court .......................................... ..... } ss: of .......................... I, .................................., aged................years, occupation...................... do declare on oath that my personal description is: Color..............., complexion................... height............feet...........inches, weight.......... pounds, color of hair................., color of eyes................, other visible distinctive marks................. I was born in................ on the............ day of.............., anno Domini 1.......................; I now reside at....................... I emigrated to the United States of America from................................ on the vessel..........................................; my last foreign residence was ................................... It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all my allegiance and fidelity to any foreign price, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to.............., of whom I am now a subject; I arrived at the port of......................................................, in the State of ......................................., on or about the............. day of..............., anno Domini 1.......................; I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein; SO HELP ME GOD. ................................................................................... (Original signature of the declarant.) Subscribed and sworn to before me this............. [Seal] day of.............., anno Domini 191.... ................................................................................... Clerk of the.................... Court By......................................................................Clerk. 8 Petition for Naturalization The second step in the process of naturalization is to File the Petition for admission to full citizenship. There must elapse two years between the Declaration of Intention and the Filing of the Petition and not more than seven years. This second step also cannot be taken until the applicant has lived continuously in this country for five years next preceding her application and in the State in which the petition is filed at least one year. In filing her petition the applicant must present her Declaration of Intention and if she came to this country after June 29, 1906, her Certificate of Arrival, the form for which should be secured from the clerk of court prior to filing her petition. The affidavits of two witnesses must also accompany the petition. These two witnesses have to take oath that they personally know the applicant has lived in the United States for the five years immediately preceding her application, and in the State in which she applies for the last year; and that they know her to be of good character, attached to the principles of the Constitution and in every way qualified, in their mind, to be admitted as a citizen of the United States. These witnesses must be either be native or naturalized citizens, and must appear with the petitioner at the time of filing the application and also at the final hearing in court. There is a fee of four dollars for filing the petition. BLANK FORM OF PETITION FOR NATURALIZATION To the Honorable the.......................... Court of.................................... The petition of.............................................. hereby filed, respectfully showeth; First. My place of residence is............................................................... Second. My occupation is....................................................................... Third. I was born on the............ day of............. anno Domini 1.......... at....................... Fourth. I emigrated to the United States from ........................., on or about the...............day of................ anno Domini 1............, and arrived in the United States, at the port of.................., on the ................. day of ............ anno Domini 1..................., on the vessel..................................... Fifth. I declare my intention to become a citizen of the United States on the................ day of..........., anno Domini 1............ at..............., in the .................... Court of.......................... 9 Sixth. I am ................married. My wife's name ........................................ She was born in ......................, and now resides at ......................... I have ................ children, and the name, date and place of birth, and place of resident of each of said children is as follows: ............................................ Seventh. I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government. or a member of or affiliated with any organization or body of persons teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and it is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to ...........................of whom at this time I am a subject, and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States. Eighth. I am able to speak the English language. Ninth. I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term of five years at least, immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since the ............day of...............anno Domini 1.....and in the State of ............., continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since the..........day of...........anno Domini 1...., being a resident within this State of at least one year next preceding the date of this petition. Tenth. I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship to any court. (I made petition for citizen to the ...........Court of ............at ..........., on the .........day.........., anno Domini 1....., and the said petition was denied by the said court for the following reasons and causes, to wit, ..............., and the cause of such denial has since been cured or removed.) Attached hereto and made a part of this petition are my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States and the certificate from the Department of Labor, together with my affidavit and the affidavits of the two verifying witnesses thereto, required by law. Wherefore your petitioner prays that he may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America. ........................................................................... Complete and true signature of petitioner.) Declaration of intention and Certificate of Arrival No.............from Department of Labor filed this ........... day of ............, 191..... Filing the Petition The clerk files the petition, with the certificate of arrival, the declaration of intention, and the affidavits of the two witnesses. He posts notice of the application and also sends a copy of the petition to the Bureau of Naturalization in Washington within thirty days. 10 No action can be taken on the petition until at least ninety days have gone by and during this period the examiners make all possible tests into the applicant's character and fitness for citizenship. Final Hearing The final action on the applicant's petition consists of a final hearing in court at which the applicant and her witnesses must be examined under oath before the court. She receives due notice of the time set for this hearing. If the witnesses the applicant named in filing the petition cannot be produced at this final hearing, she may summon other witnesses. However, substitute witnesses will not be accepted by the court unless the original witnesses are unable to appear because of death, sickness, absence from the city, or other reasons acceptable to the court. No person may be naturalized by any court within thirty days next preceding a general election, in the district over which the Court holds jurisdiction. Oath of Allegiance If the Judge is satisfied that the applicant is qualified to become a citizen of the United States the clerk of court administers the following oath of allegiance: "I do hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and particularly to ..........................the................................... of.....................................of whom I have heretofore been a subject; that I will support and defend the Constitution and Laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, SO HELP ME GOD." Change of Name The court may also, in its discretion and as a part of the naturalization proceedings, make a decree changing the name of the applicant if the applicant so requests. After the judge has signed the order of admission, the clerk then issues a certificate of naturalization to the new citizen and the procedure of naturalization is ended. WHERE TO BECOME CITIZENS The courts in Rhode Island in which foreign born women may be naturalized are as follows: 11 The United States District Court, Federal Building, Exchange Place, Providence. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the counties of Providence and Bristol, Providence County Court House, corner of College and Benefit Streets, Providence. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Kent, County Court House, East Greenwich. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Washington, County Court House, Kingston. There is also a court house for Washington County located in Westerly. The Superior Court of Rhode Island for the county of Newport, County Court House, Newport. The Federal Court has jurisdiction in naturalization for the entire state. An applicant seeking naturalization in the Superior Court must go to the court house in the county where he resides. Recommendations We earnestly recommend the establishment of night naturalization courts and also Saturday afternoon sessions both for the convenience of the applicant and for the sake of economy. We would also advocate the establishment of temporary courts of naturalization in those sections of the State which are not near the permanent courts. Bristol is sufficiently far away from Providence to render a temporary court there of value for a season each year and Woonsocket stands in need of a temporary court, at least, if not a permanent one to save the large expense entailed by the applicant coming to Providence with witnesses. We assert on good authority that this simple economy would insure a larger number of applicants for naturalization in the latter city. PREPARATION FOR CITIZENSHIP "One Language, One Country" Now you ask, "How are we to prepare for citizenship? It is not so easy as it might seem to you who were born into it as your natural heritage." That is true, but if you are young and single and already have a working knowledge of English, it is not difficult to acquire sufficient knowledge of the habits and customs, the history and laws of the country and state to pass the examina- 12 tions of the court, and you need not hesitate to apply for your citizenship papers as soon as the law allows. If you are married then you must use the gentle art of persuasion to have your husband take out his papers as soon as possible. When the law recognizes the identity of woman as an individual the naturalization laws will be modified and men and women will decide their own citizenship. If your knowledge of English is limited or none at all, you should extend it by all means, not only for the sake of citizenship but on account of your own personal welfare and that of your children. Opportunities are being opened to women in Rhode Island as elsewhere( not so rapidly we admit as they should be) to study English and citizenship and we earnestly advise you to take advantage of them. There are evening schools throughout the State where women are as welcome as men. Then there are the Classes in Citizenship conducted in the Public Library of Providence, the People's Book Room, North Main and Meeting Streets, Federal Hill House, and classes in other sections of the state. Several manufacturing plants in Rhode Island have special instructors of classes in citizenship. If babies prevent your going out to these, establish little community groups in your own home with the home teacher who has proved so valuable elsewhere. Do as an enterprising group of Portuguese women in Ward 1, Providence, did last summer. Establish a citizenship class in the basement of your church. In America be a Good American Try to make your foreign-born husbands and brothers realize that now you are in America you should have the same liberty, the same rights and the same joy in living that native-born American women have and that they should aid you in securing the new freedom that women are acquiring all over the world. Things Every Citizen Should Know The American Citizenship Campaign Committee of Rhode Island give as illustrations of the sort of things every future citizen should know about the history and laws of our country and state the following which apply to women as to men. "He should know who is President of the United States and who is Vice-President, and that they are elected every four years and that they must live in Washington. The President lives in the White House and has a Cabinet of Advisers. 13 For a Straight Ticket Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. REPUBLICAN HUGHES and FAIRBANKS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. 1 FREDERICK L. JENCKES 88 Cooke Street, Providence 2 ARAM J. POTHIER 172 Pond Street, Woonsocket 3 CHARLES DEAN KIMBALL Tower Hill Road, South Kingstown 4 DANIEL A. PEIRCE Cowesett, Warwick 5 PETER KING 10 Kay Street, Newport FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, HENRY F. LIPPITT 389 Benefit Street, Providence For Representative In Congress, 3rd District, AMBROSE KENNEDY 179 Oakley Road, Woonsocket FOR GOVERNOR R. LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN Ledge Road, Newport FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, EMERY J. SAN SOUCI 176 Webster Avenue, Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, J. FRED PARKER 432 Wayland Avenue, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, HERBERT A. RICE 138 Medway Street, Providence FOR GENERAL TREASURER, WALTER A. READ Chepachet, Glocester For Senator In General Assembly, ALEXANDER LESLIE 1113 Smithfield Avenue, Saylenville For Representative In General Assembly, WILLIAM T. TONER Main Street, Lonadale For a Straight Ticket Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. DEMOCRAT WILSON and MARSHALL FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 EDWIN C. PIERCE 145 Arnold Avenue, Cranston 2 JAMES H. HIGGINS 84 Walcott Street, Pawtucket 3 ALBERT M. STEINERT 366 Olney Street, Providence 4 PATRICK J. MURPHY 169 Broadway, Newport 5 ADELARD ARCHAMBAULT 23 Carrington Street, Woonsocket FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, PETER G. GERRY Warwick For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, JOSEPH McDONALD 147 East Avenue, Pawtucket FOR GOVERNOR, ADDISON P. MUNROE 66 Paterson Street, Providence FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, ARTHUR P. JOHNSON 234 Mauran Avenue, East Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, GEORGE HURLEY 42 East Manning Street, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL EDWARD M. SULLIVAN 1921 Cranston Street, Cranston FOR GENERAL TREASURER, JOHN W. BOWEN, JR. Foster For Senator in General Assembly, HERBERT HARRIS Louisquissett For Representative in General Assembly, THOMAS F. GILBANE Louisquissett Pike For a Straight Ticket Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. SOCIALIST BENSON and KIRKPATRICK FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 STANLEY CURTIS East Providence 2 SARAH WINDSOR Coventry 3 GEORGE H. THORNTON Albion, Lincoln 4 JABEZ GAMMON Johnston 5 JOHN B. LANGLOIS Rear 226 South Main Street, Woonsocket FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, FREDERICK W. A. HURST Cranston For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, THOMAS L. JONES 439 Central Avenue, Pawtucket FOR GOVERNOR, JOHN H. HOLLOWAY Long Meadow, Warwick FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, SAMUEL FASSEL Johnston FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, HELEN DOUGHERTY 185 Morris Avenue, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, PIERRE LE COMTE Warwick FOR GENERAL TREASURER, NELS P. NEWBERG 282 Broad Street, Providence For a Straight Ticket Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. PROHIBITION NOM. PAPER. HANLY and LANDRITH FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS 1 FRANK B. SMITH Conventry 2 IRUS ALBRO 61 Wilson Street, Providence 3 EDWARD O. RIGGS 6 Gould Street, Newport 4 ARCHIBALD RANKIN 87 Centre Street, Pawtucket 5 FREDERIC T. JENCKS Barrington FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, FRANK J. SIBLEY Richmond FOR GOVERNOR, ROSCOE W. PHILLIPS 40 Eighth Street, Providence FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR WILLIAM W. ESTES 245 Waterman Street, Providence FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, WALTER A. WILLIAMSON 3200 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, THOMAS H. PEABODY 29 Pleasant Street, Westerly FOR GENERAL TREASURER LEONARD M. ROBINSON 77 Arlington Avenue, Providence For a Straight Ticket Make a Cross (X) Within the Circle. SOCIALIST LABOR NOM. PAPER. REIMER and HARRISON FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS 1 RICHARD HOLLAND 11 Linwood Avenue, Providence 2 KNUTE J. F. NYBORG 876 Broad Street, Providence 3 GEORGE M. STERRY 51 Taunton Avenue, East Providence 4 JAMES O'GARA 55 Woonasquatucket Avenue, Providence 5 ADOLPH GULDBRANDSEN 79 Rutherglen Avenue, Providence FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, PETER McDERMOTT 785 Atwells Avenue, Providence FOR GOVERNOR, THOMAS F. HERRICK 148 Harrison Street, Pawtucket FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, AXEL B. PETERSON 113 Suffolk Avenue, Pawtucket FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, CHARLES H. DANA 311 Eddy Street, Providence FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, JAMES McGUIGAN 117 Manton Avenue, Providence FOR GENERAL TREASURER, BERNARD J. MURRAY 77 Appleton Street, Providence FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS, 1 2 3 4 5 FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR, For Representative in Congress, 3rd District, FOR GOVERNOR, FOR LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, FOR ATTORNEY-GENERAL, FOR GENERAL TREASURER, For Senator in General Assembly, For representative in General Assembly, Constitutional Amendment. To vote in favor of the proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Approve." To vote against of the proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Reject." "ARTICLE XVII. Section 1. The general assembly may authorize the acquiring or taking in fee by the state, or by any cities or towns, of more land and property than is needed for actual construction in the establishing, laying out, widening, extending or relocating of public highways, streets, places, parks or parkways: Provided, however, that the additional land and property so authorized to be acquired or taken shall be no more in extent than would be sufficient to form suitable building sites putting on such public highway, street, place, park or parkway. After so much of the land and property has been appropriated for such public highway, street, place, park or parkway as is needed therefor, the remainder may be held and improved for any public purpose or purposes or may be sold or leased for value with or without suitable restrictions, and in case of any such sale or lease the person or persons from whom such remainder was taken shall have the first right to purchase or lease the same upon such terms as the state or city or town is willing to sell or lease the same." APPROVE, REJECT, Charitable and Penal Institutions Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Approve." To vote against the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Reject." "Shall the general assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds, not to exceed the amount of eight hundred fifty thousand dollars, the proceeds of which bonds are to expended for the construction of new buildings for a house of correction and Providence county jail for state farm and county jail prisoners. the reconstruction of the present house of correction for use as an almshouse and for resanitation and reconstruction of the present state prison, and to provide for construction of other new buildings, reconstruction, equipment, including industrial machinery, furnishings and permanent improvements at the state prison, Providence county jail, almshouse, state farm and house of correction, in the city of Cranston? These bonds to be issued from time to time in such amounts and upon such terms as the general assembly may hereafter determine." APPROVE, REJECT, Armory of Mounted Commands Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Approve." To vote against the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Reject." "Shall the general Assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds not to exceed the amount of one hundred thirty thousand dollars for the completing, furnishing and equipping of the armory of the mounted commands, Rhode Island National Guard, and for the acquisition, if necessary, of additional land for the said armory, these bonds to be issued from time to time in such amounts and upon such terms as the general assembly may hereafter determine?" APPROVE, REJECT, Bridge Construction Loan. To vote in favor of the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Approve." To vote against the Proposition mark a Cross X in the square at the right of the word "Reject." "Shall the general assembly be authorized and directed to provide for the issue of state bonds not to exceed the amount of three hundred thousand dollars, for construction, reparation and reconstruction of bridges, in accordance with Chapter 846 of the Public Laws, passed at the January session A.D.1912, those bonds to be issued from time to time in such amounts and upon such terms as the general assembly may hereafter determine?" APPROVE, REJECT, NOTE—This is a fac-simile of the State Ballot of 1916 with on exception—the present emblem of the Socialist Party is substituted in place of the one in use in 1916. A close study of this ballot may save many mistakes in 1920. "He should know that Congress makes all the laws for the Nation, and that Congress is made up of two bodies, one called the Senate and the other the House of Representatives. Senators are elected for six years and Representatives in Congress for two years. Each State has two Senators and a number of Representatives corresponding to its size. For Rhode Island there are three Representatives. He should know the names of all these. "He should know the name of the Governor of Rhode Island and the Mayor of his city; that the Governor's office is in the State House in Providence and that the Mayor's office is in the City Hall of his city. He should know that the General Assembly meets in the State House and makes the laws for the State; that it is also composed of a Senate, one Senator from each city and town, and a House of Representatives, one from each election district. "If the applicant lives in a city like Providence he should know that the local laws, sometimes called "ordinances," are made by the City Council with the consent of the Mayor, and that the Council is also composed of two bodies, the Board of Alderman and the Common Council, and that the schools are directed by a School Committee of thirty members, three from each of the ten wards and that they are elected by the people. In other cities there are similar provisions. "The man expecting to be a citizen should know something about the United States District Court in this State and the various State courts, and in general, the meaning of these different courts, all of which are independent of the President and Governor and Mayor, and of those who make the laws. "There is little else absolutely essential for an applicant to know. "He may be asked what form of Government we have in this country. He will know that this country is a Republic, so called because the people themselves elect their own representatives to make the laws and their own officials to execute these laws, and that our form of Government is a Democracy, that is, government by the people. "Finally, the Constitution of the United States and that of each State is always a written document. The constitutions are the fundamental laws which protect the law-abiding citizen in his life and property and happiness and give him certain guarantees of liberty. No laws can be passed by Congress or any State which violate the United States Constitution; and no laws can be passed by any State which violate the State Constitution. "The applicant should know something of our history; that George Washington was the first President and that before he was President he was the Commander-in-Chief of the army which established the freedom of this country; and that Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War, fought to keep the country united, and that he made the colored people free and that he was shot and killed after the war. He should know that the living ex-president is Mr. Taft, and that the present President is Woodrow Wilson, who is our leader in the present war to defend this country's freedom." 16 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR COMING CITIZENS Selected from a list of questions which have been asked in the United States District Court for Rhode Island. Prepared by E. E. Bohner. PERSONAL 1. What is your name? 2. Where do you live? 3. Where were you born? 4. Have you ever been back to since you first came? 5. How long have you been in the United States? 6. How long have you lived in Rhode Island? 7. What work do you do? 8. Where do you work? 10. Do you have a bank account? 11. Do you have any personal property? 12. Can you read English? 13. Have you been to school in this country? How long? 14. Are you married? 15. Does you wife live in this country? 16. How many children have you? 17. Is your father a citizen of the United States? 18. What relatives have you in the United States? 19. Why do you wish to become a citizen of the United States? CITY OF PROVIDENCE 20. Who is the Mayor of Providence? Joseph H. Gainer. 21. Where is the Mayor's office? In the City Hall. 22. What does the Mayor do? He signs or vetoes ordinances, sends messages to the City Council, approves all expenditures, executes all contracts, appoints Police Commissioners and a few other officers, presides over the Board of Aldermen. 23. For how long is the Mayor elected? Two years. 24. Who makes the laws for the City of Providence? The City Council, composed of the Board of Aldermen (ten men) and the Common Council (forty men). 25. Where does the City Council meet? In the City Hall. 26. How are cities divided? Into wards; Providence has ten wards. 27. What is the City Charter? The City Charter is granted by the State and defines the limits of power of the city government. 28. What courts are conducted by the city? The Police Court, with sessions in the Police Headquarters; Probate Court, with sessions in the City Hall. 17 29. What other officers are in the City Hall? City Registrar for births, marriages and deaths; Superintendent of Health; Superintendent of Schools; Truant Officer; Recorder of Deeds; Commissioner of Public Works; City Engineer; Assessors of Taxes; Board of Canvassers and Registration of Voters; City Treasurer; City Auditor; City Clerk; Inspector of Buildings; Inspector of Plumbing, etc. 30. Who has charge of the Public Schools? The School Committee composed of thirty members, three elected from each ward. THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 31. Who is the Chief Executive or Governor of Rhode Island? R. Livingston Beeckman. 32. What are the chief duties of the Governor? The Governor represents the State on all occasions; sends messages to the General Assembly; signs or vetoes all bills; is Commander-in-Chief of the State Militia, and Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole. 33. Who was Governor before Mr. Beeckman? Aram J. Pothier. 34. In case of disability, who takes the Governor's place? The Lieutenant-Governor, Emery J. San Souci. 35. What body makes the laws for Rhode Island? The General Assembly. 36. Where does the General Assembly meet? In the State House, Providence. 37. What parts compose the General Assembly? The Senate (39 members) and the House of Representatives (100 members). 38. Why are there 39 members in the State Senate? There Is one from each city and town. 39. Why are there 100 men in the House of Representatives? These men are elected according to the population. 40. How many representatives are elected from Providence? Twenty- five. 41. Who is the State Senator from Providence? Daniel E. Geary. 42. Who is the State Senator from your town? 43. What is the term of office for the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and members of the General Assembly? Two years. 44. Who elects these officers? The voters of the State. 45. What is the State Constitution? The State Constitution is the fundamental law adopted by the people of the State in 1842. 46. Have you read the Constitution of the State of Rhode Island? 47. What courts are there for the State of Rhode Island? United States District Court for Rhode Island, United States Commissioners for Rhode Island, Supreme Court, Superior Court, District Courts, (Juvenile Courts) and Courts of Probate. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 48. What is the form of government of the United States? A Republic. 49. What is a Republic? A Republic is a government in which the people elect their own President and representatives. 18 50. Into what branches is the government divided? (a) Legislative (Congress) (b) Executive (President) (c) Judicial (Courts). 51. What is the Capitol of the United States? Washington, D. C. 52. Who makes the laws for the United States? Congress. 53. Into what parts is Congress divided? Senate (96 members); House of Representatives (440 members). 54. How many men are in the United States Senate from Rhode Island? Two. LeBaron B. Colt (term expires 1925); Peter G. Gerry (term expires 1923). 55. Why are there 96 Senators? There are two from each State and we have 48 States. 56. How are United States Senators elected? By the voters, for a term of six years. 57. How many representatives are in Congress from Rhode Island? Three. Clark Burdick, first district; Walter R. Stiness, second district; Ambrose Kennedy, third district. 58. For how long are representatives elected? Two years. 59. How does Congress make laws? A bill is presented by a member of the Senate or House, and becomes a law when it passes both Houses and is signed by the President. 60. Who is president of the United States? Woodrow Wilson. (Term expires March 4, 1921). 61. For how long is the President elected? Four years. 62. What are the chief duties of the President? He sends messages to Congress; signs or vetoes bills; appoints many officials; he is Commander- in-Chief of the Army and Navy, and is Chairman of the Board of Pardons. 63. Where is his office? In the White House, Washington, D. C. (The District of Columbia is the home of the United States Government.) 64. How is the president elected? By the people through presidential electors. 65. Who was President before Mr. Wilson? William Howard Taft 66. Who was President before Mr. Taft? Theodore Roosevelt. 67. Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington, (1789-1797). 68. Who is Vice-President and what does he do? Thomas R. Marshall. He takes the place of the president in case of death or disability, and presides over the United States Senate. 69. What is the President's Cabinet? The President appoints a Cabinet to be his advisors in special departments, such as State, Treasury, War, etc. 70. What are the United States Courts? (a) Supreme Court; (b) Circuit Courts of Appeal; (c) United States Court of Claims; (d) District Courts. 71. How many States are there in the United States? Forty-eight. 72. How many Territories belong to the United States? Five. Alaska, Hawaii, Philippine Islands, Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands of the U. S. 19 73. What were the original colonies of the United States? There were 13. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. 74. What is the Constitution of the United States? The Constitution of the United States is the fundamental law of the country adopted by the people in 1787. 75. Have you read the Constitution? 76. What was the Revolutionary War about? The Revolutionary War was fought in 1775-1783 against England for the freedom of America. 77. Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July? The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776, by which the original colonies declared themselves free from Great Britain. 78. Have you read the Declaration of Independence? (Ask Miss Morgan of the Foreign Department of the Providence Public Library for a book containing the Declaration of Independence). 79. When did the Civil War occur and what caused it? 1861-1865. It was fought to preserve the Union and settle the question of human slavery. 20 PART II WOMEN WHO ARE CITIZENS HOW YOU CAN AID IN THE WORK OF AMERICANIZATION "After the battles are won and man's work of conquest is done, women's war work will only have begun."-Mabel Potter Daggett. The World War has taught us many things. Perhaps the most important is that we must respect and conserve the womanhood of our nation, and by womanhood I refer to all womanhood with especial emphasis upon the stranger within our gates. Upon her has fallen an unjust and heavy burden in treatment accorded her in America. Owing to her duties as a mother and homemaker she has spent the greater portion of her time within the confines of her tenement unable to participate in the advantages of evening school and enjoy other opportunities to mingle with American people, and her contact with the world at large has been through her family and her own nationality, the only medium of communication being her native tongue. The masculine mind has not always comprehended this fact. I was talking to a prominent school official in our city of the necessity of making provision for educating our foreign-born women in sufficient knowledge of the English language, at least, for them to secure their citizenship papers and he replied, "Let them attend our evening schools." When I explained how difficult it is for a wife to leave her home and children in the evening he promptly agreed that other facilities should be provided for her. May I then as my first suggestion ask you to mobilize again the splendid force which Rhode Island women put into the war for the work of Americanization, a problem the vastness of which is but beginning to be realized. First let us speak about one solution of this problem in regard to the women of foreign birth. The Home-Teacher We find that in many states, notably California and Illinois where women have the vote and desire that the standard of 21 citizenship be raised, the non-English speaking women who owing to their household cares are unable to attend night schools are formed into little community groups in the day-time, in their own kitchens if need be, for the purpose of studying English under a teacher connected with the school system and bearing the title of the home-teacher. She by friendly intercourse comes to occupy a warm place in the hearts of the mothers. Accommodation for the babies is provided in another room during the lesson which sometimes takes the simple form of the explanation of a Butterick pattern or the exchange of the latest ideas in cooking or food conservation. Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley of Boston, Chairman of Americanization for the National American Woman Suffrage Association, tells many an interesting story of the home classes which were carried on successfully last year in Boston. Any woman of good education, of big heart and an earnest desire to do her "bit" in making for her beloved country a united people loyal to America can help in this way. She can perfect herself in the art of teaching English by attending some of the classes established by the State Board of Education for the purpose of training teachers and can apply the knowledge in her immediate neighborhood. Try it, and after enough women show that it is worth while then the State and City Fathers will want the home-teacher connected with the public school system as a necessary part. We women voters want it that way now but must show these gentlemen from Missouri. Read Omnivorously If the foreign born and the native American women would reach a mutual understanding there must be an intimate knowledge on the part of both of each other's good qualities. After close study of racial characteristics we are usually willing to agree that "There is so much good in the worst of us And so much bad in the best of us That it doesn't behoove any of us To talk about the rest of us." For a clearer comprehension of what has been done and what may be done in Americanization, read extensively. From all points of view, historical, ethnological, economic or industrial, 22 you will find the story of the immigrant from Roger Williams and John Clarke down to the most recent newcomers on the Fabre Line a fascinating tale of adventure and wanderlust, or poverty in search of the pot of gold, of dreams and of dreams fulfilled, of romance and glamour and sometimes alas, of cold disillusionment. Co-operate with our Public Libraries Our libraries have been among the first to comprehend the needs of both of the American who needs to become Americanized and the non-English speaking peoples. There you can always obtain a choice list of books so it is not necessary to give any bibliography here. Picking from my study table at random I find the following which have made an especial appeal to me: "The Promised Land" by Mary Antin, delightful and inspiring and worthy of re-reading; Edward Steiner's books, always good; "Women Wanted" by Mabel Potter Daggett, invigorating and renewing faith in our sex as well as showing us the value of conserving our woman force; "The New Voter," by Thompson giving us good advice on our new responsibilities; Edward Everett Hale's "Man Without a Country" inspiring true patriotism. "The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages," by Gouin, is perhaps the best to suggest the more modern methods of teaching English. These hints can be amplified with profit to any extent by your individual taste. A long step toward making our libraries accessible to all has been by the establishment of branch libraries and travelling libraries by women's clubs. There are in our libraries books for non-English speaking peoples in their own languages, but men, we are told, not women, are the applicants for these. This will not be true it is to be hoped when women are awakened to the responsibilities of citizenship. When the women of Chicago obtained the vote, books on economics were in as great demand as novels. Let us work for the same transformation here. What Women's Clubs Can Do Under the Federal-State Program for Immigrant Education we find the following suggestions: 23 "Organize a campaign appealing to foreign women to learn English. "Act as recruiting agents for English classes already conducted by the local school organization. "Where local school facilities are not available, organize classes under the direction of school authorities, taught by teachers paid by the women's organization, or by volunteers trained for the purpose. "Pledge each club member to induce one non-English speaking immigrant woman to learn English. "Publish handbills and leaflets in English and foreign languages, urging immigrant women to attend adult classes. "Organize neighborhood meetings and entertainments to bring together native and foreign-born women, and so promote better understanding and establish friendly relations." Economy and Convenience You can be of service in making the process of naturalization more convenient and less expensive for the foreign born in the following ways: Bring public sentiment to bear upon our courts of naturalization to hold sessions in the evening and also on Saturday afternoons. You can readily see the necessity of such sessions for working people. Bring pressure to bear for the establishment of temporary courts each year in sections of the State not in close proximity to the present courts. Such a court proved of value in Bristol last year and we hope it will sit there again this year. In Woonsocket there is a crying need of a temporary court for at least a portion of the year to save the expense of applicant and witnesses coming to Providence. These immediate reforms would bring about a distinct economy in our present system of naturalization. Legislation You can study and support Americanization legislation. Throughout the country laws are being enacted providing better evening school facilities, compulsory learning of the English language by adults, for the home-teacher in connection with the public schools, and for the improvement of our present naturalization laws. 24 Our legislative chairman has under consideration a program of necessary legislation for Rhode Island and we ask you to extend to her your hearty co-operation and support. Educational Institutions can Promote Good Citizenship. Under no circumstances must we forget that in the final analysis our future citizenship depends upon the public schools and other institutions of learning. In no grade should the teaching of our duties and privileges as citizens be omitted. From the kindergarten where "Billie Brad" was taught that "Frift Stamps" would win the war to our Universities where the nation's leaders are being trained, the study of the civics of citizenship should be taught by experienced teachers. It is interesting to note that our great Universities are beginning to realize the importance of Americanization. President Murlin of Boston University kindly gave me a copy of the letter written by a prominent Boston lawyer to that institution in presenting a gift of $60,000 for the purpose of founding a chair which he wisely prefers to have called, "The Chair of United States Citizenship." This good citizen says in part: "It is of paramount importance that the heterogeneous elements of this United States shall be united into a homogeneous whole through an intelligent understanding and appreciation of the rights, duties, inheritances and possibilities of our citizenship. The need for this is by no means confined to the foreign-born, as I believe there is urgent need of the same among our native-born. "My idea is to develop a body of leaders especially trained in United States Citizenship who will go out through this country as educators, statesmen, financiers, business men, etc., to upbuild the foundations and bulwarks of our citizenship intelligently and patriotically so that the masses of people may come to have a generally disseminated knowledge of the value, importance and distinctiveness of their United States Citizenship. The proposed Chair would set in motion an educational force and leadership that would direct and assist in the making of intelligently loyal citizens of all Americans. It would give a solid foundation of intelligent understanding for the more emotional or passionate loyalty we now see in our 25 fellow citizens. Both qualities are commendable and desirable and I plead and work for not less of either but for more of both these qualities that unite in our best Americans." Dr. McElroy, the Director of the Lawrence Plan says: "We must have definite, leisurely experimentation in the method of teaching those things which are the basis of intelligent patriotism." As women voters we can support and co-operate with the work being done in Rhode Island by our State Board of Education in the attempt to develop a better citizenship and we can encourage our young women to fit themselves as teachers of the English language and the civics of naturalization especially for the women among our foreign-born population who, as I have stated before, have been almost completely neglected by the present educational systems. REGISTRATION Women who are qualified to vote for Presidential Electors must register before July 1, 1920 before the Board of Canvassers or the Town Clerk where no Board of Canvassers has been created. They will be required to answer the following questions which have been prepared especially for women of all cities and towns by the Secretary of State and Boards of Registration. Date of Registry? Name? Number of Street? Residence at Time of Registering? (Name of Street) Place of Birth? Date of Birth? If Born or Has Resided Without the State, when She Last Came to Reside Within the State? If Born or Has Resided Without the City, When She Last Came to Reside Within the City? If of Foreign Birth or Parentage Date When She Came to U. S.? Place Where She Landed in U. S.? If Naturalized When Naturalized? Where Naturalized? By What Court Naturalized? 26 If Her Father or Husband Was Naturalized Which? When Born? Where Born? When Naturalized? Where Naturalized? By What Court Naturalized? I hereby certify that the facts stated under the foregoing heads opposite my name are true. Witness to Signature. Important Facts about Registration. Women are earnestly urged by the Board of Canvassers and those having the Registration in charge throughout the state to register early, i. e., just as soon after the first of July, 1919 as possible. The office of the Board of Canvassers in Providence opens at nine o'clock and closes at five o'clock. Personally I intend to be at City Hall at nine A. M., July first and be the very first one to subscribe my "John Hancock" on the registration books. As this is probably the exact intention of other hard-working suffragists I suggest that we make July first a gala day for the women and that the honor of being first be given by lot or some other equitable method and that many of us strive for the honor of registering on the first day. All the cities and towns of Rhode Island might do well to organize registration committees among the women and vie with each other in bringing about prompt registration. Foreign-born women may register on their first papers provided they can present proof of full citizenship to the Board of Canvassers or the clerk in charge of registration ten days before election. If after registering a change in residence is made, notify the Board of Canvassers of such change before the final meeting of the board held for the purpose of canvassing and correcting the voting lists. This meeting occurs shortly before election. No one is permitted to vote unless her name is exactly as it is printed on the checking list so it is well for women to acquaint themselves with the following provision for women who change their names by marriage. Upon application to the Board of Canvassers or to those having the matter in charge she will be provided with the following certificate: 27 Providence, R. I. ........ To the Moderator of Ward...... District......: This is to certify that the name appearing on your Voting List as........ should read........ (the party having married since her registration). You are hereby authorized to change the name accordingly and allow the bearer to vote. BOARD OF CANVASSERS AND REGISTRATION. Further information may be obtained from the Board of Canvassers, City Hall or the town clerks or by application to the writer, 394 Angell St., Providence, R. I., Telephone Angell 2607. STATISTICS POPULATION OF RHODE ISLAND Total population 1915-595,986 Foreign born: Africa.........................37 Italy......................33,802 Asia, M. S..................27 Japan..........................31 Australia....................90 Norway.....................589 Austria..................1,930 Austrian Poles.......5,749 Belgium................1,069 German Poles...........142 Canada, French..29,376 Russian Poles........4,208 Canada, others.....7,064 Portugal...............10,049 China........................204 Roumania................464 Cuba and other Islands.....................193 Russia, N. S............7,715 Denmark..................359 Scotland.................6,618 England...............28,983 South America..........240 Finland.....................283 Spain............................68 France...................1,976 Sweden...................7,519 Germany................4,227 Switzerland...............306 Greece...................1,136 Turkey in Asia........3,896 Holland.....................223 Turkey in Europe......399 Hungary....................219 Wales........................271 India............................42 Other Countries.......540 Ireland..................27,044 At Sea........................56 Total foreign-born population 1915-186,344 Seven and seven-tenths per cent of population is illiterate, i. e., those over ten years of age who cannot read or write in any language. Foreign-born males, naturalized (of voting age), 75,899. Foreign-born males, not naturalized (of voting age) 31,996. As the statistics from the census of women of 1917 have not been compiled according to nationalities we can quote none but simply take it for granted that the proportionate numbers are slightly in excess of the men as the number of women in the State us somewhat is excess of that of the men. 28 "The safety and permanence of a Republic rests on the education of its citizens and their intelligent interest in public affairs. One of the lessons that the war has taught us is the importance of disseminating among our prospective citizens American ideals and knowledge of American institutions. The hyphen must cease to be a distinguishing mark in American citizenship and the understanding and use of the English language must be universal among our citizens." Annual Message of R.LIVINGSTON BEECKMAN Governor of Rhode Island The Rounding Up for the Woman Suffrage Party Banquet SEN [?QE] GOV POTHIER SUFFRAGETTE BANQUET GEO W PARKS MAYOR GAINER The Woman Suffrage Party NEWS I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in beating its borders, by so means including women Abraham Lincoln If the Rhode Island Legislature passes the Bill giving Presidential suffrage to women in 1915, Rhode Island will have the honor of leading by about six months the thirteen original states in this valuable form of suffrage. VOL. 1 NO. 1 PROVIDENCE, R. I. OCTOBER 11, 1914 FIVE CENTS R. I. THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. VOTES FOR WOMEN VICTORY 1915 [*whole page*] The Woman Suffrage Party News I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burden, by no means excluding women. Abraham Lincoln. If the Rhode Island Legislature passes the Bill giving Presidential suffrage to women in 1915, Rhode Island will have the honor of leading by about six months the thirteen original states in this valuable form of suffrage. VOL. 1, NO. 1. PROVIDENCE, R. I., OCTOBER 31, 1914 FIVE CENTS [*OK*] THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY NEWS Published by the Woman Suffrage Party of Rhode Island SARA M. ALGEO, Editor ESTHER ABELSON, Business Manager Headquarters, 602 Jackson Building Providence, R. I. Vol. I October 31, 1914 No. 1 Six Months of Grace Volume I, Number 1, of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Party News offers no apology. It comes in response to a demand upon the part of the people of Rhode Island for an expression of that sentiment in favor of granting equal suffrage to men and women which, accumulating for the past sixty years, has now grown to such proportions that it practically represents the views of all forward-looking people. When a summary is made of the forces in Rhode Island which stand for the extension of the franchise to women and of those opposed, even ardent Suffragists are amazed at the weight of public opinion in favor of granting the vote to men and women alike. In looking the evidence for and against squarely in the face we find that practically all men and women, in organizations or out, who really have the welfare of the community at heart, and who have trained minds to back up a trained conscience, realize that granting women the right to vote is not only a simple act of justice to women themselves, but a civic necessity. In addition to the five thousand women who are enrolled in suffrage organizations alone in Rhode Island, we find our State Federation of Women's Clubs under moral obligation of endorsing it through the action of the National Federation of Women's Clubs ; the Women's Christian Temperance Union, in favor and working hard to bring it about ; the teachers heartily in sympathy owing to the action taken by the National Education Association, which went on record in favor of equal pay and woman suffrage at the summer convention. The working man and woman stand solidly for the ballot. The American Federation of Labor, the National Grange and allied working men's organizations, the National Women's Trades Unions, representing the great body of working men and women in America are all unanimously upholding equal voting rights for men and women. Practically all organizations for social betterment recognize the absurdity of the regulation of people's problems by men alone. The Consumers' League, the Federation for the Prevention of Child Labor, Mothers' Clubs, the Housewives League, all have come to see the need of woman's voice in legislation. In Rhode Island our social forces have [missing text] away its day of grace. While constitutional amendments will be submitted in 1915 in four Eastern States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, the honor will be given us, should our legislature grant the Presidential Suffrage Bill this year, of leading the thirteen original States by about six months in this very valuable form of suffrage. The psychological moment has arrived. Let us pray that Rhode Island may this year earn for herself an honorable place in the history of this stupendous woman movement. Sara M. Algeo Let Rhode Island Lead Rhode Island women are asking the Legislature to empower them to vote at presidential elections. When Illinois last year gave women the right to vote for President of the United States, it called nation-wide attention to the possibility of securing this important slice of suffrage by act of legislation. Most people had supposed that an amendment to the constitution was necessary. Many Suffragists, even, were unaware that the power to grant Presidential Suffrage was vested in the State Legislatures by the Constitution of the United States. The Late Henry B. Blackwell was unwearied in urging the advancement of this method. Rhode Island Suffragists have long been awake to its possibilities, and have been educating their State on the subject. It was a Rhode Island lawyer who drew up a list of decisions showing its legality, and his argument has been used ever since, in every State where a Presidential Suffrage Bill has been under consideration. In substance, it is as follows: By the U.S. Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, the presidential electors from each State must be appointed "in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct." In the early history of the United States, there were several instances in which the State Legislatures themselves chose the presidential electors. This method was regularly followed in South Carolina up to and including the year 1860. On several occasions State Legislatures have passed regulations for the presidential election enabling persons to vote who, by the State Constitution, would have been debarred from voting ; and the right of the State Legislatures to do this has always been upheld by the courts. Thus the Maine Legislature, on March 24, 1864, passed an act to enable soldiers who were absent in the field to vote for presidential electors ; and the next day it submitted an amendment to the State Constitution to enable soldiers absent in the field to vote for State officers. The latter required a constitution [missing text] In Henry M. Field's work on Election Law, the Michigan case is well stated. The U.S. House of Representatives decided that the Michigan Constitution could not govern the matter, as the United States Constitution gave the State Legislature absolute power over it. There are no decisions the other way. The Rhode Island Legislature has full power to take this action. By doing so it would place Rhode Island in the very forefront of the thirteen original colonies by about six months. Ten States of the Union have given women the ballot already, and year by year the number grows. Even the opponents admit that equal suffrage is surely coming ; it is only a question of time. Rhode Island was a leader in granting religious liberty. It would be most appropriate that she should lead New England also in granting political liberty to women. Alice Stone Blackwell How It Works in Illinois Jane Addams makes a very practical argument for equal suffrage. She tells what she has herself seen of its workings in Illinois. She says, "Since Illinois gave women the ballot, I feel that my argument has a certain validity which it lacked before. "Our friends, the antis—I understand you have some in New England, we have none now in Illinois—are accustomed to say, 'If women vote, so and so will happen.' This is hardly a fair argument now, because women are voting in so many parts of the world that we can answer, 'When women vote, so and so has not happened.' They say that there will be less interest in domesticity. This is easily answered by Australia, which has the highest birthrate of any country peopled by the English race. They say that mothers will neglect their children. This is conclusively answered by New Zealand. Women have had full suffrage there since 1893, and New Zealand has the lowest infant death-rate in the world. "But it is pleasanter to speak out of our own experience. Chicago is the largest city in the world where women vote, and we have had an opportunity of trying out the advantages and disadvantages. "Several gratifying things happened as soon as women were given the vote. It made an enormous difference in the attitude of public officials. We had long sought to have policewomen appointed. Chicago has a large number of small parks which are used for dancing, as well as many dance halls. On dance evenings 86,000 young people in our city go to dances. We wanted some policewomen for municipal chaperons, to safeguard young girls against dangers that beset them on such occasions. The city government would not listen to us, and the Chicago journals for years had a happy time making fun of our project. We got the right to vote on July 1, and on July 15 the Mayor appointed ten policewomen. Before September 1 we had forty, and we are promised that by January 1 there shall be a hundred. We had done nothing ' but the Mayor was coming up for re-election. We have found that, while it may not be necessary to vote, it is very important to be able to vote. "Chicago had a very bad system of garbage disposal. The method was to haul it out to a poor quarter of the city, where people are already uncomfortable and overcrowded, and there dump it and leave it to rot. Miss Mary McDowell, a settlement worker, had made a great effort to have this changed. She went to Europe and studied the best systems of garbage disposal ; she had a striking set of slides made, illustrating the conditions, and got a change to show them before the city fathers of Chicago. She lectured on the subject on all occasions. She tried her best for fifteen years. I tried too, and I served as garbage inspector of my ward at one time ; but though we used our indirect influence to its utmost, nothing was done. "Women were given the right to vote. Then the Mayor decided that we had an abominable system of garbage disposal. The city government appropriated $10,000 to improve it, and Miss McDowell, 'Chicago's great garbage expert,' as the Mayor called her, was appointed on the committee who were to spend the money. She was just the same kind of expert that she had been before ; but now the women were voters. "We had been trying very hard to get a boys' court, for boys seventeen and upwards— too old for the juvenile court, yet not full-grown men. A large part of the crime in America is committed by persons under twenty-five years of age. If we could take care of every boy until he is twenty-five, we would then turn him loose with little fear that he would go wrong. In our efforts to get this boys' court, we had had dinners and lunches at Hull House and elsewhere, and invited the city officials, and sometimes they came and sometimes they didn't. After we got the right to vote, the city officials gave the lunches, and invited us. We now have a splendid boys' court and a psychopathic clinic for these boys. All sorts of things are being done now which groups of women had long urged in vain, until women got a vote."—From The Woman's Journal. the action taken by the National Education Association, which went on record in favor of equal pay and woman suffrage at the summer convention. The working man and woman stand solidly for the ballot. The American Federation of Labor, the National Grange and allied working men's organizations, the National Women's Trade Unions, representing the great body of working men and women in America are all unanimously upholding equal voting rights for men and women. Practically all organizations for social betterment recognize the absurdity of the regulation of people's problems by men alone. The Consumers' League, the Federation for the Prevention of Child Labor, Mothers' Clubs, the Housewives' League, all have come to see the need of woman's voice in legislation. In Rhode Island our social forces have rendered valiant support in educating the masses to the importance of this question. It has been preached in the churches, debated in the schools, dramatized at the theatres, reported in the newspapers, discussed at family dinners and public banquets. He who runs may read that Victory is near. Politically the progress is most marked: with planks in four great parties, Prohibition, Socialist, Progressive and Democratic, declaring for Woman Suffrage; with a Republican party divided against itself, the younger and more hopeful element opposing the reactionary attitude of the older stand-pat group on this question; with all our candidates for the governorship pledged unequivocally in favor; with a large proportion of our Legislature pledged to support our bill; with all these things, it looks as though our politicians are beginning to appreciate the momentum of the Suffrage movement. It is a great comfort to know that Rhode Island has not yet quite sinned thereof may direct." In the early history of the United States, there were several instances in which the State Legislatures themselves chose the presidential electors. This method was regularly followed in South Carolina up to and including the year 1860. On several occasions State Legislatures have passed regulations for the presidential election enabling persons to vote who, by the State Constitution, would have been debarred from voting; and the right of the State Legislatures to do this has always been upheld by the courts. Thus the Maine Legislature, on March 24, 1864, passed an act to enable soldiers who were absent in the field to vote for presidential electors; and the next day it submitted an amendment to the State Constitution to enable soldiers absent in the field to vote for State officers. The latter required a constitutional amendment; the former did not, New Hampshire (see Public Laws of 1864) passed a Soldiers' Voting Act for presidential electors, the legality of which was unanimously upheld by the State Supreme Court (45 N. H., p. 607), although the act was in conflict with the State Constitution. The Supreme Court took the ground that the question as to how the presidential electors should be chosen "is governed wholly by the Constitution of the United States as the paramount law, and the Constitution of this State has no concern with the question." The Vermont Supreme Court gave an option to the same effect (37 Vermont Appendix.) The National House of Representatives also upheld the constitutionality of the Michigan Soldiers' Voting Act. More than twenty years ago the Michigan Legislature departed from the custom of having the presidential electors chosen upon a general ticket. It divided the State into electoral districts (and was accused of having gerrymandered it), each district to choose one elector. there since 1893, and New Zealand has the lowest infant death-rate in the world. "But it is pleasanter to speak out of our own experience. Chicago is the largest city in the world where women vote, and we have had an opportunity of trying out the advantages and disadvantages. "Several gratifying things happened as soon as women were given the vote. It made an enormous difference in the attitude of public officials. We had long sought to have policewomen appointed. Chicago has a large number of small parks which are used for dancing, as well as many dance halls. On dance evenings 86,000 young people in our city go to dances. We wanted some policewomen crime in America is committed by persons under twenty-five years of age. If we could take care of every boy until he is twenty-five, we would then turn him loose with little fear that he would go wrong. In our efforts to get this boys' court, we had had dinners and lunches at Hull House and elsewhere, and invited the city officials, and sometimes they came and sometimes they didn't. After we got the right to vote, the city officials gave the lunches, and invited us. We now have a splendid boys' court and a psychopathic clinic for these boys. All sorts of things are being done now which groups of women had long urged in vain, until women got a vote." - From The Woman's Journal. DIAMONDS JEWELRY SILVER CLOCKS, WATCHES ART GOODS PICTURES FURNITURE ORIENTAL RUGS LIGHTING FIXTURES PIANOS, VICTROLAS TILDEN-THURBER PROVIDENCE Some Significant Statements as to Suffrage white-Free States. gray-Campaign States. note-Illinois has Presidential Suffrage. WASH., ORE., CAL., NEV., ARIZ., COL., KAN., WYO., IDAHO, MONT. BY THE Legislative Committee of the R. I. Equal Suffrage Council Extent One-half the area of United States is now equal suffrage territory. Gain Seven States by a large majority vote this year have agreed to submit Amendments granting (full) franchise to women to their voters at the next election. Among the seven are the big industrial States. Note their majorities: House (in favor) Senate New York................. 125-- 5 40-- 2 Pennsylvania.......... 130--71 good majority Massachusetts....... 196--33 33-- 3 New Jersey.................58-- 0 17-- 4 Iowa............................84--19 38--11 Endorsements Equal suffrage has been endorsed by nearly every national organization of women, by many leading national organizations of men, and by a large number of local organizations. Not a single Association, form the smallest sewing-circlet o the largest Chamber of Commerce, in those States where equal suffrage has prevailed, has since its adoption gone on record as disapproving it. Isolation The Society Opposed to Suffrage for Women stands solitary in its opposition. Contrast Compared with the organized millions of men and women who have endorsed equal suffrage, the numerical strength of the opposition is insignificant. In a Democracy numerical strength and political strength should be synonymous. Presidential Suffrage The Bill before the Rhode Island Assembly may be termed a most conservative measure of woman suffrage. Its trial would be a test involving little trouble and expense and no derangement of present State suffrage, and if unsatisfactory could be repealed by a subsequent Legislature. Responsibility Rhode Island is justly proud of her leadership in granting religious liberty; if its Assembly passes the Presidential SUffrage Bill this year, it can lead the thirteen original States in recognizing the right of women to share in the political liberties of their country. With each member, so far as his individual vote is concerned, lies this opportunity to earn another historical record to be cherished by his descendants. Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.