Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-04
Suffragettes in Pageant To-
day Reach Climax of
Public Efforts to Show
Strength of Cause.
SCENE is ONE OF
RARE GRANDEUR
Thousands Of Women of
Varying Ages and Rep
resentative of Numerous
Avocations Participate.

Washington, D. c., March 3.-Thts
was womans day Of political crowning
glory, short of actually possessing the
universally right to vote, for several
thousand of them turned out to form a
great procession in Pennsylvania
avenue, to demonstrate the unanimity
Of their sex in it's demand for the bal
lot.
Even before the procession started
enthusiastic thousands lined the broad
avenue. Cheers greeted the small de-
tachments and great wave or ap-
plause marked the progress OF Gen
eral Rosalie Jones and her little band
of mixers" as they proceeded to the
rendezvous. Men and women alike
joined in the demonstration and the
human walls that lined the route OF
march formed sea of tossing hand
kerchiefs and waving flags.
Precipitation and business-like meth
DDS marked the carrying out OF the
plans for the parade, which was to
form at and around the peace monu-
ment. Trumpeters, stationed at inter
walls in the distance, stretching to the
treasury, were ready to sound the "ad-
vance" as the head OF the parade
started. On the steps Of the govern
ment's treasure house the actors In
the tableaux, symbolic Of woman's tri-
umph, stood at attention and ready
to begin series Of dances and allur-
ing groupings.
Mrs. 6urIeson In Charge.
Mrs. Richard Coke Burleson, grand
marshal Of the procession, was busy
from an early hour today preparing
for the start. She was assisted by
five aids, all excellent horsewomen,
who rode astride and dashed here and
there giving hurried commands and
bringing order out of chaos. Miss
Ine7 Nilholland as the one whose
trr t was to signal the start was
dressed in royal purple and astirde q
nettlesome charger.
Virtually no deviation was made
from the order Of march as already
made public. Allegorical floats found
their way into line without hitch:
under the dashing directions of the
mounted aids, delegations were assign
ed and the various sections were plac-
ed in their individual positions.
Elderly Women Take Part.
A striking feature of the gathering
at the foot of Capitol Hill was the
number of elderly women who appear
ed to march for the cause" while the
day was perfect, the air was chilly
and the way was long.
AS planned the officers Of the ma
tional woman suffrage association
were given the place Of honor In the
line Immediately behind the grand
marshal and her aids and the purple
clad herald. Behind them were mass
ed forty "ushers" and prancing
squadron Of "petticoat cavalry under
the command Of Miss Genevieve VIM
satt. The seven sections, into
which the suffrage managers had divid-
ed the procession, formed kaliedo-
scopic picture of ever-shifting color.
Gay tunics set of somber caps and
gown; the prim dress of professional
nurses were the back ground for the
gingham gowns and poke" bonnets Of
the farming women, while the gay
and fashionable attire of we'll known
actresses we're in contrast with the
purposely-stained dress of literary
women.
Chariots and Liberty Bell.
When the golden chariots' con-
tributed by the suffragettes of Balti-
more put in an appearance to lead the
seventh section, they were acclaimed
with cheers. Although gaudy in their
fresh gilt, the chariots shared atten-
tion with a more sombre liberty bell"
float in the same section, the contri-
button of the suffragettes of Phila.
1t had been arranged that when the
parade started the dances and
tableaux on the treasury steps were
to begin, reaching their climax as the
head of the procession reached that
point. Nine. Hedwig Reicher, as
Columbia, was to hold the center of
the improvised stage and to summon
to her side Justice, Charity, Liberty,
Plenty. Peace and Hope. The pret-
tiest of the younger suffragists had
been cast for the parts.
Dance In Bare Feet.
The principals and dancing girls |
had spent anxious and busy hours in |
the preparations of costumes. They |
were Of varied colors, rich in puppies !
and crimson and scarlets, but all had |
been arranged SO as to make perfect
color scheme. Two Of the principals,
Continued on Page 81