The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12


lowed By Utah and Idaho In
1896, Washington In 1910. California
in 1911, Oregon, Kansas and Arizona
In 1912, Illinois and Alaska In 1919,
n Montana and Nevada In 1914. In
h present year equal suffrage
measures have been presented before
the legislative sessions Of twenty
eight States, winning In seven 80 far
as legislative action is concerned so
that the issue Is to be settled at the
ballot box this fail in New Jersey
at a special election on October 10,
and on November 2 In New York,
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. In
1915 the ballots of men will decide
this question for Iowa, West Virginia
n South Dakota.
An interstate conference OF the 1916
campaign States was held last month
in Orange, y. J., demonstrating thai
the women of New York, Massachu-
sets, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
are welded in political formation for
urging their suffrage campaign. Each
OF these States has inaugurated indi-
vidual publicity programmes. In New
York thorough canvassing. street
meetings, upstate campaigning. au-
tomobile tours. posters, movie" films.
dramatized argument. widespread dis
tribution of literature extend from
Niagara to Montauk. There are over
5000 active, banded workers for equal
suffrage in New York State. and lOO.-
600 evote volunteers carry on spo-
radio activities. In New Jersey cam
paign speaking from automobiles is
featured; in Massachusetts the Blue
bird for Suffrage chirps from tree
n fence; in Pennsylvania the silent
Liberty Bell. paraded by women from
hamlet to city. starts inquiries as to
its Significance, while window boxes
n flower gardens symbolic the
equal suffrage colors.
Since the question comes first be-
fore the voters of New Jersey, the
prospects Of victory there should be
considered before hat in the other
States. Mrs. Lillian Feickert, presi-
dent OF the New Jersey State Suf-
frage Association, says:
I'VE feel "A great responsibility rests
nnOn our ShnIIllnrQ and pa ara uorG-
ing day and night to win, for New
Jersey stands at the turn of the tide
and must lead the East toward the
new ideal of a democracy which will
include American women. We must
reach all the voters of the cities as
we'll as in the country districts, and
in the last three weeks we have
formed eighteen new branch leagues.
ut is "A long time since Lucy Stone
organized in New Jersey the first
suffrage league Of n hundred MEM
bers. Now our State Association en-
rolls one to two thousand new mem
bers every month. The belief in the
fundamental justice Of woman suf-
frage has become steadily stronger
from yea to year. so that we now feel
the time has come for the women OF
New Jersey to win the political free
dom for which they have so long been
working"
Mrs. Nina c. Van Wrinkle OF New
ark. president. and Mrs. NJ. j. Rey-
nolds. secretary. OF the Women's Po-
litical Union Of New Jersey, distribute
10000 leaflets a day, direct Statewide
automobile campaigns and organize
factory caHvassing with paid workers
in the field.
With unanimous vote on the suf-
frage amendment in each house OF the
State Legislature last February the
New York women started on the last
six months of their campaign with
fresh courage and hope.
Mrs. Raymond Brown, president of
the New York State Association for
Equal Suffrage, says:
THE working basis for what is be-
ing done in the Empire State is a
union Of five powerful suffrage organi-
cations in the Empire State campaign
committee. of which Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, known as the statesman OF
The suffrage cause is chairman. The
organizations of which it is composed
are: The Woman Suffrage party,
the Mems League, the New York State
Association, the Equal Franchise So
ciety and the College Equal Suffrage
League. This committee has organ
lied the State on the Assembly dis
trlct plan. which is subdivided into
election districts, and each unit has a
leader and her workers in charge,
accountable to their leader. Mrs. Gait.
This interlOckinE system enables the
leaders 10 keep In close touch with
women all over the State and makes
unanimlty Of action possible"
Mrs. Harriet stanton Blatch IL
president Of the Women's Political
Union Of New York. which holds about
seventy-five meetings regularly each
week on corners Of the city's streets,
and It's speakers address mems organ
i%zations. It has found it more profit
able To harargue the Elks, Redmen,
firemen's conventions and chambers of
han TO speak AT women's
parlor meetings or at } O'Clock teas.
This union conducted a liberty torch
automobile parade from Mortauk
Point Ia Niagara. II was through Mrs.
Batch thet the hll permitting women
watchers AT the pos was passed by
the Legislature. She is "A daughter of
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a founder OF
the woman suffrage movement in
America.
Back OF the Local and State organ
lzations stands the National American
m Suffrage Association, Of
which DR. Anna Howard Shaw is presl-
uent, with Headquarters in New York
city. II was fOunlod f~nrty-stx vonrs