The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-04-08
~ Obe First so
HUoman' S Infantry

copyright. 1909, by American Press Asso
ciation.]
"You women wish the same rights
as men. Then do the same duties-dC
military service"
1--WE are tired Of hearing you mer
throw this up at us whenever we de
mand the right Of suffrage. We a0il
do military service. You assume that
we cannot endure military hardships
We can do our part-that is, the light
er part. Our arms and accOuterments
may be of a weight proportionate to
our physique"
Such was the reply of Mrs. Susan
Armstrong to the president, who In
his next message to congress transmit
ted the demand. An act was intro
duced creating a corps Of women to
serve in such places as Mrs. Arm
strong had indicated. They were to be
enrolled as infantry, though the intro
Queer Of the bill disavowed any slur
on the women from a double meaning
of the word. If they were found effec,
tive as foot soldiers corps of cavalry
and one of artillery were to be added.
An amendment was introduced leav-
ing the selection of the uniform with
the women enrolled.
The first regiment of (women's) In
fantry was enrolled and instructed by
the secretary Of war to select its uni
form, after which it's officers would be
appointed and it's equipment furnished
by the government. Eight hundred
women met in council. Mrs. Arm.
strong was elected president, and the
meeting proceeded to business. Miss
Owen moved that committee be ap-
pointed to design uniform. The mo-
ton was put and carried and the com
mittee appointed by the chair. 1t
was then announced that the work
had already been done, a uniform had
been selected and would be presented
to the meeting.
Miss Wrinkle, chairman Of the COM
mittee, read a description Of the uni
form. It was to be Of blue cloth,
tailor made; jacket faced with vel
low, skirt to fall three inches below
the knee, hat Of felt on wire frame
crown, inverted bell shaped, four
inches high, brim one yard in diane
ter, ostrich feathers of suitable shades
to match.
When the description had been read
the president announced that the mat
ter of its adoption was open to dis
cussion.
Miss Skinner-I should like to ask
what sized hustle is to be used.
Miss Wrinkle-There will be no bus
tie. The uniform is to be for service,
not ornamental.
Miss Skinner (sharply)-H'm! With
no hustle perhaps some of us may dis
play figures by no means ornamental.
Mrs Latherly-Will the chairman Of
the committee please inform us II
there is to be uniform hip breadth?
Miss Wrinkle-The hips are to be the
natural size.
Mrs. Latherly-Mrs. President, If the
hips are to be natural size I would
suggest enlisting only women with
average hips. How would the rear
rank look with
The President-The lady is out OF or
der. Miss Blackmore!
Miss Blackmore-Are there to be
two battalions-one of blends, the 9TH
er Of brunettes? Certainly the bru-
nettes cannot be expected to wear
blue
The President-The members Of the
corps will wear the uniform as adopt
ed.
Miss Skinner-I should like to know
Mrs. President, if we are to be permit
ted to make our figures respectable, or
are we to be denied all pads?
Miss Wrinkle-The secretary OF war
has estimated that our regiment can
not be mustered In TO the military
service without a serviceable uniform.
With our accouterments there will be
no room for padding.
Miss Ferguson-Does this deprive us
Of corsets?
Mrs. Mathews wish to say right
now If it does desire my name strick-
en- off the rolls. demand corset. and
straight front corset.
Mrs. Kellogg-Mrs. President, the
the straight front corset with rear pro-
tuberance look. should like to know?
Does the lady wish something to carry
q mess kit on?
Mrs. Mathews-The vacant space I'M
der the rear Of the corset might be
used for cartridges. I'm not so i'm
practical as the lady would suppose.
So there!
Miss Shipper (tittering)-With the
straight front corset our corps would
look always in the position of charge
bayonet."
For some time the wrath Of various
members had been gaining ground,
and from this point there was a dou-
BILE class divergence. The fat women
were ranged against the lean ones and
the brunettes against the blends. The
meeting finally broke up in confusion
and has not since been called together.
Meanwhile the secretary of war is
waiting to equip and muster in the
corps.
| This split in the matter of uniform
has greatly retarded the suffragette
cause, which, 1t was hoped, the demon
stration of woman's ability to do mill
tary service would greatly assist.
| Some prominent suffragettes are en-
deavoring to discover who 1t was that
| introduced the amendment to the bill
| constituting the corps which provides
Nha% 49, or~oI1od mnmherS ShO1I1d 60