The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-04
By Mabel H. CoIlver


data concerning the woman suffrage
movement in this and other countries
the wOuldbe student finds himself
considerably relieved Of what would
otherwise be a stupendous task Owing
70 the tireless energy on the part Of
three women-Susan B. Anthony, Eliza
beth Cady stanton and Ida Hustled
EGper-most OF the material has been
Eealously collected and preserved
The movement is distinctly American
IN origin. and is thoroughly modern.
The early colonists were little dis
turbed BY the babblings Of women"
writes q savant and he seems devoutIy
thus 10 crave a retrogression to the
past. Mr.. Asquith's prayer might be
the same. Nevertheless, history does
record that as early as 1857 one woman.
G certain Mistress Margaret Brent Of
Maryland. did rise upon her two feet
and most emphatically demand place
and voice" in the legislature of the
time She stands out a remarkable
parsonage. inasmuch as she was well
Fersed in law. and also because she
was executrix OF the estates Of both
Lord Baltimore and Lord Calvert. Since
representation was then based on prop
erty, her demand was duly considered.
holly debated-and finally denied.
Raking the ashes little farther
along. the colonial records OF Massa-
ehusetts disclose the fact that women
voted under the old province charter,
from 1891 to 1880 for all elective on
GERS. though later they were excluded
from voting for governor and mem
bers OF the Legislature.
With the dawn OF me new regime. in
the period just preceding our declara-
ton OF Independence. Abigail Adams
steps boldly into the foreground. as
rabid an exponent OF woman's rights
es any age may wish to claim. Taking
her cue from the spirit OF the times.
and keeping IN nina the main griev-
ence OF the fiery colonists themselves.
the fair lady did indite a letter to her
husband, John Adams. then in the con-
tinental congress, March, I77s
I long TO hear that you have declared
an independency, and. by the way, in
the new code OF laws which suppose
II viii be necessary for you to make.
desire you would remember the Ia
dies and be more generous and favor
able 70 them than were your ancestors.
Do not put such unlimited power into
the hands OF husbands. Remember. all
men would be tyrants If they could.
II particular care and attention are
not paid to the ladies, we are deter
mined 10 fonent a rebellion. and will
not hold ourselves bound to obey any
laws IN which we have no voice or
representation"
Clear, concise and emphatic Yet it
is presumed that poor John Adams. al
ready sore perplexed over many vexa-
ttous questions. could not do more than
admire the spirit OF his militant wife.
Two years later, despite the stu more
troublous times. Mrs. Hannah Lee Cor
bin earnestly presented her own peti-
ton for the right to vote"-and was
disereetly denied the privilege.
New Jersey Gave Suffrage
Since the continental congress left
the suffrage question in the hands ~
the states. TO be dealt with bv tbAi-
constitutions. the latter rather than The
former may be blamed for the great
omission In regard 70 women. Despite
any arguments that may have been
brought to bear on the subject (tbev
are not recorded New Jersey was the
only state CALAMITY 70 confer the fran
chise on women. even for a period. ana
must therefore stand out as the first
Erate IN which an American woman
ever cast g ballot. The constitution
adopted July 2. 1875. granted the right
OF suffrage to ~all inhabitants worth
$3.50" The property laws of the time
favoring male supremacy, made it diff
cult for married woman TO possess
anything fl her own name, even $3.50:
but the records show that for a. that"
many women availed themselves of the
suffrage privilege at presidential as
well as at minor elections. Such was
the disturbance, indeed, on account Of
the female faction" that in 1907 the
legislature passed an arbitrary act lin
iting the suffrage to white male citi-
zens." The women claimed that this
was a rank usurpatioii OF authority, in
asmuch as the constitution could be
changed only by action of the voter;
but despite their protest the new clause
displaced the old and the New Jersey
womens political equality became a
thing OF the past
With this sudden suppression of a
few women's budding aspirations the
matter seems to have lain dormant for
a number Of years When, in 1925,
Francas WRIGHT. a young Scotch
woman or pronounceo Ioeas. came TO
the United States and began series
Of lectures on political equality for the
sexes she met with open derision from
women as well as men. Ten years later
Ernestine l. Rose, a young Polish exile
~ education and refinement, circulated