New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-01
By Emma Bagbee

VT WAS q grea. war which CAV,
woman suffrage its first impetus
in the United States. and nov
another war has fastened tn,
hour of its success. 1t is not, how
ever, in the last analysis the wal
which has brought about the victory
n Is the forty years since the suf
frage amendment was first introduced
into the United States Senate; forty
wears in which American women
learned 70 formulate their own opin-
ions ard stick to them. Therefore II
is fitting that we should, in the hou,
of victory. glance backward once more
10 the stalwart souls who began the
crusade in the days when it was no,
popular.
The first mention OF woman suf.
irage in American history is the
famous letter written by Mrs. Abigail
Adams, in 1915. TO her husband, John
Adams, when the Constitution was be
ing framed. What lot of trouble it
would have saved if John had only
had little more respect for his wife S
request.
AZ long to hear that you have de-
clared an INDEPENDENCE, she wrote.
"and, BY the way, in the new code of
laws which l suppose it will be neces-
sary for you to make I desire you
would remember the ladies and be
more generous and favorable to them
than were your ancestors"
In 1s4S the women drew up their
first Declaration of Rights" at a con-
vention in Seneca Falls, N Y. They
demanded changes in laws which made
woman morally an irresponsible be-
ing; compelled her to give unques
tioning obedience to her husband and
deprived her of occupation in profit
able emrloyments.
Man. read the wrathful climax,
"has assumed the prerogatives OF
Jehovah himself, claiming it as his
right to assign for woman a sphere
Of action, when that belongs to her
conscience and her God"
The woman's movement grew and
Aourished side by side with the Adolf
tionsts, but to the grief OF the women
when the amendments to the Con-
stltuton We're framed the word
male" was inserted. Elizabeth Cady
Stanton and Susan B. Anthony made q
second attempt to have the word "sex"
included in that clause which con-
eerned race, color, or previous condi-
ton Of servitude." All their efforts
were unavailing.
In 1878 the woman's cause was first
heard from on the floor OF Congress,
when Senator Sergeant. OF California,
introduced the Susan B. Anthony
amendment
It was then that suffrage got on
the front page 1t was not such a
long story that The New York Tribune
of that day published, but it was :
biting ard scathing one.
The women. We read, actually in
vadel the Senate corridors, and had
the im2ertineace TO buttonho.e the Sen
atols On their way to luncheon, so that
it was most uncomfortable.
The story OF woman suffrage during
+ the forty years that intervened is
story of persistence and faith such
as the annals OF no other cause can
boast. Campaigning in those days was
a far different thing from the cam
paigns ~ automobile and Pullman car
which our women make to-day-al-
though We do not forget the hardships
r rural districts undergone even by
TIE girls OF this suffrage generation,
or the last journey over the Rocky
Mountains which cost the life of the
most beautiful suffrage campaigner,
lnez Nilholland Boissevain.
The greatest figure Of these days,
the woman VINO more than any other
ore lea the slender ranks of The
women who would not forget nor re-
nounce their cause, was Susan B. An
thony-"Aunt Susan" OF the red shawl
and the gentle voice, the quick wit and
the abiding faith. She it was who
planned the long years of the cam
paign, seeing far in the future thu
successes which are now come to pass,