Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-08

Women who desire the ballot have come
to understand that nothing can be &C
complished without organization. The
mother Of all Of the great suffrage or
eanixations Is the National American Wom-
an Suffrage Association. with headquarters
in Now York. from which center radiate the
numerous lines Of work. The National
Woman Suffrage Association was formed
in May, 1889, and its sole object was 70
secure q sixteenth amendment to the
federal Constitution which wouio en-
franchise the women Of the nation. Eliza
beth Cady Stanton was its first presl-
dest. and Susan B. Anthony was on its
first executive committee. AS there was
at this time a division Of opinion as to
how the ballot could best be secured. an
other organization was formed In Ohio
the following November. Of which Henry
Ward Beecher was first president and
Lucy Stone the chairman Of the executive
committee. This was known as the
American Woman Suffrage Assoclau1 On,
amendments to the different state consti-
tutions, which method has since been
found the most practical. Tnere was
friendly feeling between the two organi-
cations, however each always being will
ing to aid the other In 1890 the two
bodies united. taking the name or the
National American Woman Suffrage AS
ISOLATION. Mrs. Stanton was ITS nrst
president and Miss Anthony was vice
resigned because Of her advanced age,
and Miss Anthony succeeded as president,
serving until her resignation in 1900.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait succeeded
Miss Anthony as president. serving TOT
four years. and resigning to enter stu
broader field, for, in 1902. an international
meeting was held in Washington under
the auspices of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association. ana steps
were taken toward the formation OF an
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of women: In Ber-
lin in 1904 the International Suffrage Al
lance was organized. aud Mrs. Gait was
elected its first president, and sne stlll
fills that ONCE Rev. Anna HOWARD onaw
succeeded Mrs Gait as the president OF
the American organization. The National
American Woman Suffrage Association Is
now a strong federation OF state Suffrage
associations These are made up OF
county organizations which are tnem-
selves composed Of local clubs.
But the regular suffrage associations,
active and systematic as is their work.
Associations Perform perform
Only Fraction Of Work. a fraction
Of the work which is going on to secure
the vote for American women. There
are many woman suffrage political par
ties which are organized after the same
manner as the other great political
parties. They have ward or branch or
sanisations in every voting district ana
their work is practically conducted after
the same manner as the mems parties.
The woman suffrage party Of New York
is probably the most thoroughly organ
lied of these. It has working COM
mittee in each Of the assembly districts
of the city. including Brooklyn. Richmond
tricts a separate campaign is being con-
Quoted according to the needs OF the
community. In addition to other Iea-
lures, this party has social headquarters
at which excellent meals are served at
reasonable rates, besides private dinners
and luncheons and Sunday evening teas.
The woman suffrage party last year en-
rolled over 30 90 members in New YORK
It handles thousands OF dollars ANNUALLY
and is now collecting funds toward
100000 campaign fund to be used IN
bringing about a suffrage amendment In
that state. This party distributes thou
sands OF circulars in each Of its sixty
three distists a,Tsrsnt are ianepa1es for
even the foreign immigrant has now been
made familiar with the meaning OF the
slogan, "Votes for women"
Mrs Clarence Mackay is the founder
of the Equal Franchise Society, which Is
gaining membership by the hundred
every month. This society has lately
moved into it's new headquarters in the
Peter Marie mansion on East S7th street,
which has been furnished in handsome
style by Mrs. Mackay. The fine old ball
room viii be the library and will be used
as a club and reading room for the MEM
bers. The work Of this organization Is
largely educational and one feature Is the
maintenance Of q free circulating library
Of suffrage and civic literature.