Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-15

lily, her great grandmother, her grand
mother ana her mother having all
made the journey to Congress to Sc
cure the vote for women. She told Of
the manner in which the women first
approached the Congressman and Sen
ators, fully believing that they would
live up to the promises made to the
women and put through this amend
ment to the Constitution in short
time. She related how the women of
this Country have been put off and of
their struggles To secure their equal
ity with men.
In the leading universities, Miss
Amidon said that the subject Of suf-
frage had been considered unbeatable
because there was only one side to it,
the affirmative She described the
manner in which her grandmother
off and told to wait because the Civil
war was more important than the en-
REIMBURSEMENT of women; Of how her
mother was told at the time of her
journey to the Capitol in the interests
Of suffrage, that the Spanish war was
the paramount issue then, and of how
she, when approaching Congressman
in the interests of the cause was told
that the Mexican situation was the
leading issue of the time. Through all
these various phases of the fight of
the women of America, Miss Amidon
took her hearers, telling many inter
esting anecdotes in connection
Miss Amidon said that after hav-
ing an audience with the President II
times in four years, he finally told the
deputation to concentrate public at
tention on their issue which they did
by picketing. She gave a description
OF the banners arrested, but failed to
tell of the famous Kaiser Wilson"
banner. which almost caused riot in
the Capitol and Indignation through
out the country. She recounted the
imprisonments of the pickets and
their sufferings and the manner in
which they were released.
Miss Anidon said that Just year
from the date that the pfcketing be-
gan in front of the White House, the
suffrage amendment to the Federal
Constitution was passed in the House.
She urged upon those present to wire
or write Senator Hale that the women
of Maine wanted this amendment, and
try to win him over to their side. She
said the women of the United States
must be cnfranchised Immediately if
they were to catch up with their AL
lies.
Mrs. Robert Treat Whitchouse,
leader Of The Woman's Party in this
State presided, giving short address
he fore introducing the speaker Of the
evening"
Press report in part reads:
Miss Beulah Amidon. straight from
Washington and youngest of all the
Woman's party campaigners, adj
dressed large and enthusiastic audi
ence at frye hall last evening on
Catching Up With Our Allies" urg-
ing, Of course, the passage of the suf-
ffage amendment to parallel the action
of European nations and presenting all
the various phases of the suffrage
situation, oven the much mooted pick
citing episode Of recent occurrence in
such scintilating fashion that she
won both laughter and applause.
Portlanders have been so accus-
toned to hearing from Woman's party
speakers stirring defense Of the
rlcketers t7at it was rather a surprise
to have Miss Amidon pass very lightly
over that feature Of the Woman's
party campaign for suffrage, saying
that 1t was short, simple, unmpor-
tant episode In suffrage history"
what she did concentrate upon was
the struggles Woman's party mem
bers have had with the various con-
gressmen and senators to pin them
down to effective work for the SUI
frage issue.
They LED TO U.S." said Miss Ami
don There is no softer word for il
They plaved with US. They held us
off. That was the result Of no,;,;aa,
power"
Miss Amidon narrated a series :.
highly humorous incidents having -