The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-24
DEFEAT OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN
IOWA
BY Miss Minnie Bronson

ilVNfuttnt uao ttitit b''h
a clearer demonstration Of our mot
90, where we work we win," than
in the great campaign which just
closed in Iowa on the fifth Of June
with a clear majority Of 1884 votes
against the suffrage amendment.
II can also be said that the truth Of
the converse was quite as clearly
established, where they work we
win"
According 10 the claim Of the suf-
fragists. over 500 workers and speak
ers were sent into the state by the
suffrage organizations, among them
some Of the highest-paid speakers in
the United States, Five million
pieces Of literature were distributed
by the sufrragists more than eight
pieces to each voter. Twenty
counties had paid secretaries. Five
sixths OF all the newspapers in the
state supported the amendment.
Every daily paper in the state, with
two or three exceptions. were advo-
Gates Of the suffrage cause. The
Democratic nominee for Governor
not only advocated woman suffrage.
but 800 copies OF his speech were
sent 20 each Of the ninety-nine
counties Of the state for distribu-
ton. Letters in support Of woman
suffrage signed by both the United
states Senators, Cummins and Ken
yon. aud by Governor Clarke, were
circulated over the state. The last
month OF the campaign the entire
State was covered by automobile
parties speaking and distributing
literature. The President OF the
National Suffrage Association spent
month in Iowa and gave gener-
Gus financial help" The Associa-
ton Of twenty states also contribu-
ted literally and many individuals
gave money generously. Doctor
Shaw. Mrs. Gait, William Jennings
Bryan and other notables toured the
State. As DIR. Effie Jones. who spoke
more times than any other speaker
said. I'VE have burned up the air
of Iowa with oratory as thoroughly
a. il could be done" And she MOURN
fully adds, The enemy had few
meetings and little oratory. yet they
polled more votes than we did. The
value of the spellbinder is small.
n is generally conceded that II
the vote had been taken In Febru-
ary the amendment would have re-
ceiyed stronger support; even in the
beginning of May, the vote for sur
frage might have been larger. but
every day Of the campaign strength
ened the anti-suifragists, and voters
were daily changing from the sur
fraee TO the anti-suffrage ranks.
II the election had been month
later. the state would have rolled
TN a majority many thousands
greater.
Time and again, men came TO anti
suffrage headquarters and said, Il
am going to vote against suffrage
Nv wife is a suirragist and ever
since this campaign began ! have
had TO eat my supper at restaur-
ant or get il myself. and oftener than
otherwise I get my own breakfast
n Just getting the vote takes so
much OF her time, what will she do
when she gets ita Give me one OF
those buttons which says vote No
and give me some for my friends.
They feel just as ! do
"Where they work We win.
n was late in January before the
anti-mffragists organized a State
Association. We began by occasion
nj addresses and by distribution OF
literature 10 show the voters OF
Iowa the results Of woman suffrage
in other states. We demonstrated to
them that il had raised taxes, had
produeed discord in families, mad
advanced socialism, had failed To
bring about one single reform which
which had not been gained In male
suffrage states. This was most Ell
fective work. Suffrage was defeated
in Iowa because the conservative
and far-seeing farmers of that state
were not TO be beguiled by the ora
tory of the suffrage spellbinders into
believing that suffrage in Iowa
would be a good thing when It had
so lamentably failed in Colorado
Washington and California. They
were not TO be persuaded that 1t was
worth while TO add half million
dollars a year to their taxes and
vote a poll tax on every woman in
the State. of voting age. in order
that a small minority Of women
of the cities could take hand in
politics: that these women were In a
great minority was clearly indicat-
ed during the campaign.
Women can vote in Iowa on all