Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1918-02-01

Miss Mabel Vernon, national sec
setary of the National Woman's Par
BY, gave an address in High School
Hall. Tuesday evening, in a campaign
being waged to have the Susan B. An
thony amendment, giving women ma
aional woman suffrage. pass the sen
ate. Perhaps the audience could have
been numbered in two figures; posi-
bly, it would have taken three. With
out actual count it was hard to say
whether there were quite a hundred
present The speaker deserved a
large audience. Had it taken fsuf
figures to denote the number in the
HALL it is safe to say that all but the
last two figures would have repre-
scented intensely interested listeners,
and those not interested could have
been set down as stone deaf or not
familiar with the English language.
For, regardless of ones opinions on
the suffrage question, the story of the
Tong fight for the enfranchisement of
women, its many discouragements,
and from time to time apparent gains
and small successes, as told in un-
stilted language by Miss Vernon. was
an interesting story indeed. Whoever
likes fair fight against odds must
have been stirred and have had their
sympathies aroused by the story of
slow progress by persistent, untiring
workers. as painted by words from
the lips of the speaker. Her face ra-
dated the JOY of recent victory, but
also denoted the intense determine
non to carry the fight successfully
shrough the senate and then to ac-
somplish the herculean task of seeing
that the amendment is ratified by
three-fourths of the states.
The story was so wildly painted
that the audience could fairly see the
rand of women as they carried on
their campaign to the very gates of
the White House and even within its
portals; could see the stern face of
the president as he met delegations of
women in an unresponsive manner at
first. gradually having his interest
and sympathy aroused until the day
same when he went to New Jersey
and, as Mr. Wilson, east ballot for
the acknowledgment of women in his
own state They could see the women
at headquarters planning their cam
paign to keep equal suffrage before
the nation, congress and the presi-
sent, willing to be locked behind bars
If need be in carrying out the purpose
they believed to be just and right.
Then their arrests for, as they say,
the trumped up charge of 'obstruct-
ing traffic" and their sufferings in
the workhouse at Ocoquam, where
many indignities are alleged to have
been heaped upon them
On being introduced Miss Vernon
alluded to the fact that woman suf-
frage had first been advanced in
1S4S. After speaking of the recent
victory in the house of representa-
yves she said that now all effort is
tarned toward having the amendment
pass the senate and then will come
the time to make the fight for ratifica-
ton by the Statets. She expressed the
opinion that the amendment would
pass the senate and said that only
four votes were needed to assure its
passage One of these, Senator Nc
Lean of Connecticut, had been set
down as noncommital but might be
won. This makes Connecticut an i'm
portant state in the effort and the
people should urge the senator land
Senator Brandegee too, at least as
complimentary to vote for this
measure, which is one Of Justice"
Coming down to 1913 Mis- Vernon
told of the establishment Of 3-ead-
quarters in a basement il Mashin--
ton and the determination Of the wo-
men to stay there until the amend
ment was passed. TIE first biz parade
Of women, who h been irsuitei and
mobbed. This only served 70 spread
broadcast tie idea that women We're
working earnestly and demanding the
amendment.
At the beginning of the national
rsovement the party leaders found
out that they needed the president be-
sind them, and set about to get his
support. The first interview was Sc
cured and the president told the dele
gates that he had no opinion on the
question Of suffrage, as he had never
become sufficiently interested.
While discouraging, the party did
not give up. 1t determined to stir up
interest with campaign directed up
IN the president, congress and the