The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-06-24


Miss Lucy Burns identified themselves with the
national association. Miss Paul made chair
man OF the congressional committee and Miss
Burns her chief assistant. The former young,
pale faced girl third woman suffrage fighter
OF American Quaker stock. had served term
in Holloway Jail for her militant activities under
the guidance OF Mrs Emmeline pankhurst, then
the head Of the womens Social and Political
union of Great Britain
Miss Paul and Miss Burns did not long
main with the national association They oTgan-
lied the Congressional union on lines similar to
those which the Pankhurst organization was
formed. In 1916 this became known as the Ma
tional Womans party.
The Woman's party leaders, the "plcketlng suf-
fragists," as they we're often called. began to
work for the passage OF the eighteenh amend
ment. but they followed an entirely different
course They adopted militant tactics, they staged
the spectacular. Their success lay In a psycho-
logical analysis OF mems character hitherto not
considered in the suffrage campaign. They
derstood the dislike, almost fear. that men have
OF being ridculed. And the woman's party lead
ers played on that fear. They caused senator's
and representatives TO be laughed at and ridi-
cued whenever they could. and they tld not
draw the line at the president.
The Woman's party organizers went to prson.
and Miss Paul forcbly fed. Her followers
were ready and willing to submit TO the same
treatment. Many of them did go to Occoquan.
where they treated like ordinary prisoners.
They told OF their treatment In detail after they
were released, and later they organized the "Pris-
on Special" train which toured the country
and carried most Of the women who had been i'm.
prisoned for having picketed the White House.
Both organizations have had representatives
in each Of the states where the eighteenth amend
melt 10 come before the state legislature,
whether In regular special session.
The League of Women Voters has teen crIti-
clzed tending TO keep women out OF the par
ties. At the Chicago convention Mrs Gait said
in reply:
For 60 years we have been appealing to the
parties for the vote Is 1t possible for us now to
remain outside OF those parties and obtain the
things we wish without petitloning them7
III we are stlll to be petitioners, what was the
idea of getting the vote?
"More and the parties are becoming the
powers in this country, Instead Of appealing to
them II is better to get on the inside and get the
things you desire.
you'll discover that your Illusions will be
shattered and. II you not careful you'll be
lulled into the satisfaction Of having reached the
political penumbra' where most of the
But II you keep going youll find little denser
thing farther on. That Is the 'numbra.' In that
you'll find the who are doing things form
ing the platform. directing the policies. You will
not be so welcome there. but that is the place TO
60. You1 find the real thing in the center. with
the door locked tight. You will have to open It,"
OF the long, hard struggle for woman suffrage.
Mrs. Gait said In part:
I'VE should be glad and grateful today. but
more. should be proud-proud that the years
Of organized endeavor have been clean, construc-
tive, conscientious.
"In every corner II sowed the seeds Of justice
and trusted 10 time to bring the harvest. II has
aided boys In high schools with their essays In
debates and later heard their confident votes of
yes In legislatures. Reporters assigned TO our
Washington conventions went the first day
with contempt and ridicule in their hearts. but
went out the last day won TO our cause and later
became editors OF newspapers and spoke to thou
sands In our behalf through influential editorial
columns. Little girls came to our meetings lis
tened and accepted and later as mature women
became intrepid leaders
During these years 1t has rarely had sal
aried officer and then she has been paid less
than her earning capacity elsewhere. II has
been an army Of volunteers who have estimat ed
no sacrifice too great. no service too difficult
1T has had great, peerless women In IT. ranks
all down the decades. Brave Abigail Adams with
her gentle threats Of rebellion. Ernestine Rose
striving for property rights for women. Abby
Kelly fighting for free speech against mob
armed with rotten eggs. The Grimke sisters pro
testing against taxation without representation
Sver-voiced Lucy Stone tacking up her own
handbls for meetings OF her own arrangement
DR. Elizabeth Blackwell pretending not To care
although the women OF Geneva scoriied her, the
frst woman medical student.
every gentle and winsome AntoInefte Brown
standing unmoved before the convention OF cler
gymen transformed into dsorderly mob because
woman had heen duly elected delegate Il
their temperance convention.
"Elzaheth Cady Stanton. with her matchless
state papers. Glorious Susan B. Anthony whose
indomItable viii kept things stirring for 10 year,
and more. And greatest OF them all. with he,
transcendent gifts. Anna Howard Shaw