The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-12
GROWTH OF WOMAN'S SUI
FRAGE.

Editor of the Sunday Spy: A writer in
The Spy, commenting upon the recent pre-
sentation of antt-suffrage arguments be-
fore the Womans Club, makes some state
ments in regard to suffrage and the suf-
fragists that are certainly based upon a
| misrepresentation as to the facts. The
writer in question intimates that the suf-
fragists used to meet with great success,
and continues:
''Now, however, the tables have been
turned, and the suffragists find themselves
actually fighting for mere existence. 1t is
no longer question of gaining vantage
ground, but of escaping determination"
The membership of the Massachusetts
Woman Suffrage Association has for years
been steadily growing, and is larger today
than ever before. This growth in suffrage
sentiment is not limited to Massachusetts.
Eight years ago the annual income of the
National American Woman's Suffrage AS
SOClatlOn was only $1,000. Three years ago
1t was $4,000. Last year it was $4,000.
Neither is this growth of public opinion
( limited to the United States. The first
petition for woman suffrage presented to
the British parliament, in 1857, was signed
by only 1893 women. The petition of 1878
was signed by II, 600 women. The petition
presented to the members of the last par
lament was signed by 257,O 600 women.
In view of these figures, the suffragists
do not feel that they are in any immediate
danger of determination"
If the number of suffraEists in the Wor-
cester Woman's Club is smaller now than
few years ago, which ! doubt, it is
merely little eddy in the broad current.
The writer in The Spy says: at is
new and trying sensation to the woman
suffragists to ind themselves placed on
the defensive. The sutfragists have al
ways had to be on the defensive, and the
attacks against which they had to defend
themselves in the beginning were much
more violent than at present. In the early
years of her leCturing for equal rights, my
mother was pelted with spitballs and
hymn books and on one occasion was
played upon with cold water through a
hose while she was speaking. Nowadays
we are only pelted with epithets. Asfirst
| the opposition was almost universal Now
public opinion is largely divided on the
question, and is steadily growing more IA
yOrable. On this point let the hard
facts speak for themselves:
At the beginning of this century women
could not vote anywhere.
In 1888 Kentucky gave school suffrage to
widows. In 1861 Kansas gave it to all
women. In 1863 England gave municipal
suffrage to single women and widows, and
Wyoming gave full suffrage to all women.
School suffrage was granted in 1873 by
Michigan and Minnesota, in 1876 by Col
Orado, in 1878 by New Hampshire and Ore
/ gon. in 1879 by Massachusetts, in 1880 by
! New York and Vermont.
In 1881 municipal suffrage was extended
I to the single women and widows of Scot
/ land. Nebraska gave school suffrage in
/ 1893. and Wisconsin in 1855. In 1886 school
/ suffrage was given in Washington. and
municipal suffrage to single women and
widows in New Brunswick and Ontario.
/ In 1857 municipal suffrage was extended to
all women in Kansas, and school suffrage
I in North and South Dakota, Montana.
! Arizona and New Jersey. In the same
year Montana gave taN-paying women the
/ right to vote upon all questions submitted
] TO the TaX-DaEerS.
! In 1889 municipal suffrage was extended
/ TO single women and widows in the prov
! inCe of Quebec. In 1891 school suffrage
! was granted in Illinois. In 1893 school suf-
/ frage was granted In Connecticut, and full
| suffrage in Colorado and New Zealand.
I'm 1894 school suffrage was granted in
! Ohio a limited municipal suffrage in
] Iowa. and parish and district suffrage in
/ England to women, both married and sin
| gle. In 1895 full suffrage was granted in
| South Australia to women both married
/ and single. In 1895 full suffrage was
/ granted in Utah and Idaho. In 1898 mu-
/ nicipal and county suffrage were granted
10 the single women and widows of Ire
land, the women Of Minnesota were given
1 the right to vote for library trustees.
French women engaged in commerce were
| given tho right TO vote for Judges Of the
] tribunals OF commerce, and Louisiana gave
tax-paying women the right to vote upon
| all questions submitted to the Taxpayers.
| In 1899 California has extended school suf-
! frage to women, with only one dissenting
| vote in the house and six i'm the senate:
| and the legislature of Oregon has passed
! an amendment to grant full suffrage to
/ women by vote Of As to in the house
and . to I in the senate
/ Years ago. when woman suffrage was
| much more unpopular than now. Bishop
| Gilbert Haven was asked il il were true
/ that he ha6 been speaking at a suffrage
! meeting Yes answered the bishop. 81
| don't want to fall I'm at the rear Of this re-
1 form: ! mean TO march with the process
/ sion"
There can be no doubt as to which way
/ the procession is moving.
/ ALICE STONE BLACKWELL.
| Dorchester, Mass.