Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-08
Views and Reviews
Pioneer Suffrage Leaders of
the Earlier Davs

While suffrage IN the national constitution
has yet several lengths to go, endorsement of
senate brings it much closer to the realms of
probability. 1t is recalled that the amendment,
although it bears the name Of only one of
them, was drafted in its present form in 1875
by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. An
\ thony, was introduced in congress for the first
time three years later and has been kept more
or less in the foreground of agitation for the
more than 40 years that have since elapsed.
The pioneer suffrage leaders all came out to
Nebraska for the suffrage campaign in 1882 and
some Of them at different times since. One Of
the high spots of that campaign was debate
between Miss Anthony and my father, which
held the boards before 4 crowd that packed the
old Boyd's Opera house. Miss Anthony was
prim and slender, angular in feature, hair
parted in the middle and drawn around smooth
voice, quick in retort, thoroughly versed in her
subject. She resembled the usual picture OF
New England spinster as contrasted with the
matrony appearance of Elizabeth Cady Stanton
who was plump and pink and puffy, with beau
tifully wavy snow-white hair, benignly COM
for Quakeress.
When spent winter in Washington few
years later the suffrage notables were there in
full force for convention and a hearing before
one Of the congressional committees. was
collecting autographs at the time and, as a
souvenir of the occasion, have the autographs
of Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton, both written
on the same page of my album. l also attended
a reception given for them, think by Mrs.
Spoffard, which was the suffrage social event of
the day. Miss Anthony visited in Omaha once
or twice after that and was entertained, as
recollect,. the last time by the Omaha Woman's
club. Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton. we may
be sure, will go down into history as the moth
ers of equal suffrage in this country.
Speaking Of the suffrage movement another
Of the leading lights Of the early days was Miss
Phoebe Couzins. who was likewise entered in
the lists here for debate during that campaign.
I noticed in Colonel Wattersons series of re-
miniscent articles an account of an incident in
which she figured when he was presiding over
the democratic national convention in 1876 as
its temporary chairman He says:
Much against my will and over my pro-
test, was brought to promise that Miss
Phoebe Couzins, who bore woman's rights
memorial should at some opportune moment /
be given the floor to present it. l foresaw \
what row it was bound to accession
Toward noon when there was lull in
the proceedings l said with an emphasis
meant to carry conviction: Gentlemen of
the convention, Miss Phoebe Couzns, a repre-
sentative of the Woman's Association OF
America, has memorial from that body and
in the absence of other business the chair
will now recognize her.
Instantly and from every part of the hall
arose cries Of No These put some heart
into me. Many a time as schoolboy had
t detained ., the passage from from John Homes
stood upon the Grampean Hills The COM
mttee was escorting Miss Couzins down the
aisle. When she came within the radius of
my poor vision | saw that she was beauty
and dressed to kill.
THAT was reinsurance. Gaining little
A. l,an g.. II.
thunder of negation, | laid the gavel down
and stepped to the edge of the platform and
gave Miss Couzns my hand.
"As she appeared above the throng there
was momentary All! and then lull, broken
by single voice:
"'Mister Chairman rise to point of
order
Leading Miss Couzins to the front of the
stage, took up the gavel and gave gentle
rap. saying The gentleman will take his seat
But. Mister Chairman, l rose to point
of order" he Moderated
"The gentleman will take his seat an
swered in the tone of one about to throw the
gavel at his head. No point of order is in V
! order when lady has the floor
"After that Miss Couzins received posi-
tive ovation, and having delivered her mes
sage" retired in blaze of glory
Miss Couzins died few years ago, after
having experienced complete change Of heart.
From an enthusiastic champion of suffrage she
had become an uncompromising foe of it, and
her last appearance before the congressional
committee having the suffrage amendment in
hand was to present strong argument against
it, copy of which she went to the trouble to
send me personally.
Here is wttigram that is being carried
around by Mr.. Taft's troup of league OF nations
orators: "Mr. Taft has been dieting. He has
lost 80 pounds. But he carries more weight
than ever.
T.L<7ho R.<~m