Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-16


fact no better commentary can he written
on the cause Of woman suffrage in the United
states than the chronicle Of events which
preceded and followed tho election of Novem-
bcr 3--al Of which hinged about the 14O0
women affiliated with the various clubs and
organizations Of the city. In fact, 1t may be
said without fear OF contradiction that the
Organization would rule today In Tcrre
Tautc were II not for the methods introduced
and the tactics pursued by the women Of that
Indiana city
Prepared for the Worst
When Dom NJ Roberts was elected Mayor
II large number Of sunragsts appeared as
watchers at the polls. While they saw the
repcatcrs, the fraudulent manipulation of the
machines and the gross violations Of election
laws at that tIme--1913-they were not
equipped and were too unfamiliar with con-
ditions to take an active part i'm tho subsc-
pucnt investigation. The leaders OF the vari-
Gus organizations believed that similar tao
tics would he followed at the 1914 election.
This time the women would he prepared!
Immediately after the last registration day
several women appeared at city Hall, de-
manded and secured the poll books and care
fully copied the name of every registered
voter Additional copies were made for each
ward \ meeting Of the Central Committee -
known as the Womcns CouncilComposcd
Of delegates from each womans club or
organization in Tcrrc 1Taute. was called and
plans FOR the coming election were perfected.
4 subsidiary committee was appointed with
Mrs s G. Stimson as chairman. Miss Mae
TTclmcr. ono Of the most active suffragists
i'm the state, was put in charge Of the active
campaign.
More than 400 women volunteered to ap-
pear as watchers on election day. A com
mittee was formed in each ward which
worked I'm conjunction with the subcommit-
tees Of the precincts. There were, however,
many precincts in the business section and
Tendorloin which were not represented.
For several weeks prior to the election the
various committees held meetings The In
diana election laws were read TO the volun-
toers, tho procedure at the polls was eX-
planned and the pollbooks carefully gone
over. Ono woman found to her surprise that
ten men were registered from her home-she
would lay for them at tho poll! Being ia
miIiar with their immediate ueighborhood
the woman picked the questionable voters
and made notatlous in the pollbooI,s Back
Of the names a question mark was placed to
he checked up on election day.
The Women Are Threatened
Some ono among those 400 women had q
brilliant dca-au idea which may result in
clean elections throughout the country
should it be universally adopted. All the
women were advised to carry cameras in
order to photograph repcatcrs and disorderly
scenes around the polling places. In addi-
tiou, various pocket electric lamps were sup
Piled while n few of the women went so far
as TO secure automobile searchlights to be
used in the early morning hours and at night
before the polls were closed. Notebooks, in
which to mark the number OF voters at Il
designated booth and to keep memoranda,
We're also supplied
The Organization learned OF the intended
patrol They instantly started series OF
stories to the effect that the women were to
he arrested; that the Taylorville gang
would beat them up" and that the Organ
ization would get them" or their husbands
These rumors quite naturally, prevented a
number Of women from appearing.
November dawned cold and dark, Long
before daylight band of resolute women
400 strong. left their homes and started for
the polling places These women represented
the finest, wealthiest and most cultured fam
lilies of Terre Hantc. While they were in
SplFeu with Il ulllu lopSI Lllb hldJpIlly lelI
that little could be done to give an honest
election still they would try-just once
more.
A Strenuous Days Work
That "urre more proved to he the last
the last, at least, for TelTe Haute when the
women will be compelled TO keep tabs on the
Roberts gang.
At the polls they stationed themselves be-
fore 6 o'clock, Many OF the women did not
leave during the entire day. Others worked
on three or four-hour shifts. As each
voter appeared his name was secured, and
he was checked from the polbook Another
woman-there were usually three or four at
each polling place-kept tab on the number
OF men who entered the machine or ballot
booths When one women left she signed
her name and wrote the time in her book
thus an accurate record was kept In each
precinct OF the number of voters and those
who voted
Before the crooked work started the police
department and the Roberts Fairbanks lieu
tenants did everything in their power 10 per-
suade the women to leave Holler and
Nugent, the chief Of police, and his assistant,
cOnhdentially told a number of the ladies
that the Tenderloin thugs were about. and
that the police never could protect such
number Of women They were also advised
against exposing themselves on such cold
day asked to step into nearby houses to
warm themselves. and finally threatened
with arrest. To an this kind advice and
these threats the women paid no attention.