The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-09
AUNT SUSAN GOES HOME
Famous Suffragist Makes a Few Re-
marks Between Trains.

marks Between Trains
On her return home from the west
Susan b. Anthony stopped a short time
between trains in Kansas City yester-
DAY and the following is what a Kansas
City reporter wrote about her:
Two conductors, porter and depot
master lined up at the Pullman steps
Yesterday afternoon when the Missouri
racine train rolled into the Union depot
at 8 o'clock. They were there to assist
Miss Susan b Anthony, the grand old
woman of the female suffrage move
ment in America. to alight. But they
formed a guard of honor and not an
invalid escort. A nimble figure in a
black satin dress that rustIed
came down the steps and pair of
bright eyes shone through gold glasses
at the officers.
''Well-a-day, gentlemen. and thank
YOU But 1 seem to need little assist
ance. was IS last February to be
sure, but I'm my own woman yet. Yes,
you may carry my bag for me- And.
yours is. Surely it must have been
built before l was born and
that was in 1920. Does that seem a
long time ago? Not to me. My life has
been too busy. Senator Piatt said re-
Gently that he had wasted his life. I
can't say that of mine.
She lodged truck and remarked,
| smiling, while an outward train groaned
I past.
Just take me where we can sit down
and talk. won't eat or drink anything,
thank you. l will dine on the Santa Fe
when it goes out at g.
Her quick eyes found some vacant
seats near the natron'S desk and she
sat down with her sister, Miss Mary
Anthony, who has accompanied her to
the suffrage. conference at the Portland
exposition and is returning with her to
| their home in New York
| Hers Not Lost Cause.
| tAnd. no, you mustn't call me the
great fighter of a lost cause protests
this wonderful woman 1.-THE cause isn't
| lost. It's winning. Women have got the
vote in four states and school suffra ge
| in "a. And it is so difficult to get the
vote under our system of government.
We have first to get up sentiment strong
Eenough to carry majority of the state
| Legislature to adopt the franchise. Then
| it goes to the men of the state. And
they have to be educated, too. 1t re-
quires a great deal of money. There are
| so many thousands of men to reach.
And we cannot get any of the parties
| to take it up as a party question. They
make excuses, but the real cause is that
they fear the women would disturb the
balance of power.
I'VE are going to try to get it in
Oregon next; They have the Initiative
the question submitted next June.
Can l notice any progress in the
movement"
Miss Anthony laughs at her sister
and her sister laughs, too.
why, it is fifty-three years ago
since 1 began to work. L started in
New York state. ] canyassed that
state in 1853 and 1854. In the ma
jority of places that / went into they
looked at me as at a wild thing. Now,
when 1 am advertised to go anywhere
| and speak there will be a dozen fami-
lies in the town writing to ask me to
stop with them.
land women everywhere are wax
ing up to the question. Only last year
I went to England to attend the con-
ference in Manchester and the secre-
taries of a dozen women's trades
unions were present to indorSe the
movement. And in America we have
10000 members who each pay their
dollar a year. rfTl'fzs -
She stops, mot for breath. but to
consult her watch.
Its twenty minutes of six. Come
alone to my car and We'll talk there"
| Again she walks unaided through
the tumult and confusion at the depot
and mounts the steps of her Pullman
without assistance.
New England is Foreign Soil.
This enameled flag was given to me
on my eighty-fifth birthday" she said.
''but it should only have four states
one for each of the states that have
| given women political liberty. And
the difficulty we have to face is that in
the south people are too indolent, in
the west they are too Indifferent and
in the east the foreign element is SO
great that it is impossible to educate
them, so fast do they come. Why,
many of the New England states are
not American any more. They're for
eign. And those thousands of ignor-
ant men can vote after q years resi-
dence. while thousands of educated
American born women are denied the
franchise and classed with criminals
and lunatics. But the good cause is
growing, growing"
She leans back in her chair, very
charming and cultured woman Her
published photographs do her a gross
injustice. Her skin is brilliant. her teeth
are almost perfect, her voice is melod- |
ious.
"And now, no more suffrage please
she concludes. It have been staying at |
LeavenWorth with my sister-in-law, the |
widow of my brother, Colonel Anthony. |
That was fighter for youi But fancy |
men are changing. We were always af- |
ter the dollar, But in my girlhood there |
was not so much stealing |
and stealing seems easy. But |
even then 1 have faith and hope in
my country. We are SO ponderous that
it takes a great deal to make u.s. No.
l have no message to send to Missouri.
Missouri is asleep on my question But
it seems to have a governor who is wide
awake. Goodbye"
Her sister hands her a book and she
commences to read. Her sight, like her
brain, is undimmed. The porter opens
a window and she leans out to say good
bye again.
in Missouri she says, but they are all
gone Perhaps shall not be long here,
either, but when go it will be quickly.
I'm not breaking up. shall just die