Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-05-05
THE SUFFRAGE PARADE
IN MINNEAPOLIS.

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Many hundreds and even thousands
OF women took part in the suffrage
parade on Saturday afternoon, May 2.
The weather was favorable and the
city of Minneapolis seemed in harmony
with the cause. Whatever thought
reigned in individual minds the out
ward atmosphere conveyed a feeling
of sympathy with, and belief in the
cause.
Though the people who marched
consisted of women of all classes and
nationalities, they possessed look
of thoughtful intelligence. There
seemed to be no attempt to thwart
the ends to be attained by the APP
pearance Of very earnest body of
women of all ages and classes. whose
silent and impressive demonstration
| found to be exercising upon me an in
| fiuence that | had not felt from
any written matter, lecture or de-
| bate, that l had hitherto read or heard
| One woman of thirty-fiye or forty look
ling on, an anti-suffragist, remarked
to her gentleman escort: SIT looks
| like rain, wouldn't it be good joke
| If they all got drenched." | turned
to see what sort of an exterior she
possessed who could consider an
occurrence joke, which nil =. have
caused the sickness and even the
death of many Of her sacrificing
sisters
| The banners were beautiful and
appropriate, of many different colors.
yellow and black predominating.
These were made of different design
and showed originality and taste
upon the part of groups of women
The Scandinavian, German, Danish
and French women wore the costume
of those countries and carried such
banners as, Our sisters i'm Scandan-
avia have the vote, we want it here z
In Norway and Finland, Men and
Women Vote on Equal Terms =
France For Progress, etc q"
Other prominent groups in the pro-
cession were the Minneapolis Politi-
cal Equality Club women, wearing
| white caps With nine blue stars,
alumni and senior suffragists of the
| University of Minnesota, very large
body, the women lawyers of the Twin
Cities, the women doctors, the nurses,
the social workers, the teachers, the
college women of sectarian schools,
the women riders, and many other
groups of women numbering over two
thousand in all. 1t was with some
emotion that the crowds thronging
the side walks viewed. the pioneer
women, some of whom in the sixties
and seventies could not help but
suffer from the long march. From
fifty to sixty men, perhaps more, en-
thusiaStic suffrage advocates, marched
in the rear bearing the badge of the
day, Votes for Women" A fine
suggestion Of CALAMITY and protection
was given by the presence of the
mounted police of Minneapolis, who
headed the recession. Behind them
followed the women riders.
Arrived at the Auditorium those
in the parade were admitted first and
nearly filed the house, but outsiders
found room in the first and second
balconies. The banners of the nine
suffrage states were suspended from
the first balcony. Such others banners
in the regular colorS, black ana
orange, or in green and white, orange
and brown, were also swaying from
the balconies. Such notices were on
them as, "The Country Needs the Vot-
ing Power of All Citizens" Govern
meht is Housekeeping and Home
making" "There Are Many Argu-
ments Against it But no Reasons"
a 100000 women now vote in the
United States, 1--WE Believe in EQUAL
Suffrage Because We Believe in Demo
cracy. Eventually, Why Not Now"
Not Privilege But Justice" Finally
an enormous pennant in green and
white was lowered from the second
balcony bearing the words, THE
West"
Prof Maria Sanford, formerly of
the University of Minnesota, was in
troduced amid an ovation of cheers
and waving of the large banners, and
hundreds of the smaller ones, all bear
ing the words, "Votes for Women
Although over eighty, she spoke with
the clear strong voice and presented
the clean-cut and reasonable argu-
ments that have been characteristic
of all of her talks in past years 1t
was remarkably strong and appeal
ing plea conveying her unconcealed
Joy at the progress of the cause and
pleading with woman always TO pre-
serve the innate modesty she now
possesses, to keep sane and level
headed while she works diligently
and unremittingly for that which
will better her condition economically.
socially, and morally. At the close
still greater ovation was given her.
followed by an original chorus by the
University women. She was followed
by Senator Sageng of Ottertai Co,
who had presented the suffrage
resolutions in the Senate and had
worked for them constantly and
diligently. He gave strong, manly
and convincing appeal for woman
suffrage, the best address | had ever
heard upon the subject, and closed
just at p. m. The lateness of the
hour prevented others from speaking,
so the meeting was closed with the
adoption of suffrage resolutions and
the singing of the Battle Hymn of
the Republic.
Before tile paraders entered the
secured a position
where | could look into the faces of
all of them. ] saw there no special
look of elatiOn or triumph, but one of
calm, enduring and undaunted per-
sistence. One might say look even,
of hope rising above discouragenae nj
and often lock of extreme WEAKNESS
from the lOng march. 1t was silent
and moving appeal TO be understood,
and 70 count, as woman. AS woman,
weary of the follies and injustice of
sex distinction in morals and legiSla-
ton, weary of the contamination of
and war, persiStently
hopeful for an era of complete under
standing and adjustment. AS woman
the brighter era about |
which Julia Ward Howe sang so long