The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-08-18
WOMEN WORKERS
REJOICE AFTER
R RATIFICATION
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait Is,
sues Prepared Statement
on Suffrage Victory

New YORK, Aug. lS.-VOlcing the
sentiment of many .suffragists who
have worked diligently to gain the
vote for women, Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, president of the American
Suffrage association, in a prepared
statement issued upon the completion
Of ratification, said:
"Our mothers began it. So itrcame
on to us, in way, a sacred trust
And great part of our rejoicing
today in the hour of victory iss COM
pounded of our feeling of loyalty to
the past and our satisfaction that
we have stood faithful to it's trust.
"It was fifty years ago that the
women Of the National Suffrage as
sociation began what was to be a
fifty-year long campaign to get the
Congress of the United States to pass
a federal suffrage amendment. Con-
gress had been importuned for the
amendment by the women even be-.
fore that, but 1896 marked the or
ganization of the National" with the
ayowed purpose Of securing suffrage
by national legislation.
Washington Lobby
From that day until June 4, the
maintenance of a congressional lob
by in Washington to work for fed
eral suffrage was part of the pro-
gram of the National Suffrage as
sociation. 1t meant keeping up an
unbroken chain of lobby work at
Washington for over half century.
. at was in 1878 that the amendment
was presented to the 45th congress
by the National in the form in which
it was finally passed. Twenty
congresses were to have a chance at
it in that identical form. Before
twenty-five congresses the women Of
the National were to stand and plead
for justice. OF those twenty-five con-
crosses the Republicans dominated
both branches in eleven and the
Democrats in four, while in seven
the House was Democratic and the
Senate was Republican. In this re-
velation of well-divided. long-continu-
ed opposition lies, perhaps, the ex-
PLANTATION of why women smile
somewhat cynically today at all par
ty claims to a monopoly Of merit in
forwarding the suffrage program.
Never was a measure so systematical-
ly opposed, never one whose progress
was so vehemently disputed inch by
inch.
26 Special Sessions
GAS with it's passage, so with the
ratification Delay and obstacles
have been the constant portion Of the
National Suffrage association in sec
uring the needed 36 states. Because
of the failure of the 65th Congress
to pass the amendment, the measure
had to go to the state legislatures
in an "off" year. Only ten states
could ratify in regular session. TWen-
ty-six special sessions have had to
be called to secure the full compile
ment of ratification. To get these
special session called has been in
itself monumental work for the ma
tional suffrage association, necessl-
tating an interminable chain OF let !.
ters, kilograms, and special personal
emissaries.
"Now that it is all over, the feel
ing of "ceaselessness" is probably the
sensation uppermost with us all. And
perhaps it is just as we'll that 1t
should be. For women cannot stop
The National cannot stop. With
new purpose, the purpose of making
the vote register for an improved
citizenship, the women of the Ma
tional are already lined up under
new name, the League of Women
Voters"