The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-10-22

| Editor Journal:
1 will endeaVor to tell of the
great suffrage parade which occurred
here recently, though I cannot do JUS
| tice to it, it was so, stupendouS
would rather have witnessed it, in one
way, but yet | would not have missed
| taking part in it for anything; one
! woman in my line said she had been
| in the Chicago parade and would not
| have missed this one for anything in
| the world. She is a music teacher here.
Though I was anxious to be in the
para de in order to assist the cause,
yet I hesitated, fearing I would feel
out of place, as all the people were
strangers to me- but when l arrived
at 9th street, where our section mob
ilized, I felt as though / were among
old friends, as everyone was talking
to everyone else in the friendliest way
imaginable. l marched with the mus
icians, and there were thirty of US, in
Guiding two men; one man and three
daughters, all musicians. were In the
Firistour, very fine violinist who
has studied abroad. I heard someone
say she had a $1,000 violin.
Just back of us were six women
lawyers, and back of them a dozen or
more women doctors; after them came
thousands of teachers. social workers,
nurses, etc.
The papers said that between 1000
and 10000 suffragists, men and women
marched in the parade, accompanied
by fifteen bands, and that 100000
people watched us pass, 500 boy scouts
marched at intervals on either side
Of the marchers, frequently assisting
traffic policemen when the spectators
pushed too far beyond the curb. All
along the line of march thousands
packed the sidewalks, and cheered the
rarading masses, the crowd was order
~. One hundred and four policemen,
in charge of Captain Martinez, were
on duty to keep the streets clear for
the marchers and to prevent any dis
turbance.
Mobilization of the marchers began
promptly at 80 p. m. and twenty-five
girls mounted on horses directed the
formation Eyes to the front! For
ward march, was the marching cry.
We marched six abreast, a canes
length apart. six feet behind the line
ahead and thirty feet behind the group
ahead. We were ordered not to talk
and for once obeyed beautifully. (You
know we would not talk near SO much
if we could vote for actions speak
louder than words).
Ten thousand yellow roses had been
made at suffrage headquarters, 1905
Euclid avenue. and were all sold at
ten cents each; every marcher had
one, and many sSmpa thiZers who were
among the spectators wore yellow
asters and chrysanthemums. We were
requested to wear white and if pos
stole to go oareheaded and the major
&ol1 he
weather was just right, neither too hot
nor too cold. and the sun became OBJ
scured by a cloud just before the pa
rade began, which made 1t more pleas
ant for those of US who were without
hats. Four hundred men marched in a
body, some of the most distinguished
in the city, which surprised a great
many people, and drew generous ap-
plause along the whole line of march.
Mrs. Harriet Upton of Warren, Ohio,
president of the state suffrage asso-
cation. said that she had taken part in
every suffrage partde that had ever
been held in this country, and this is
the first time she has ever heard the
men in line get anything but jeers and
sneers.
There were nearly 900 women from
out of-toWn who marched: they had
l.
in special railroad and electric cars.
Many of the electric cars were deco
rated with suffra ge strearners. Organ
izations of women born in foreign
countries had prominent places in the
parade. Madame Rosika SchWimmer,
Budap pest. Hungary, secretary of the
international Suffrage Alliance, led
the Hungarian women; score of
suffrage speakers dropped out along
the route with Boy Scouts and assist
ants to conduct street meetings; they
carried soap boxes with them and
everyone wondered what they were
for. but they soon found out when the
bearers began dropping out of the lines
and making speeches.
After the parade I saw some Of them
speaking TO the crowds, principally
men. and everyone was paying the
closest attention. 1t reminded me of
last Mardi Gras in Pensacola when
Mrs. Stoner spoke from an automobile
in front of the San Carlos and the
worth while men listened so atten-