The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-26
.ADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM MONDAY, JAN. &c, ]

constitution SO as to extend to women
the right of suffrage"
BY Mrs. SewaII.
The chapter in the third volume
lending 1889 which takes up the re-
organization of the suffrage forces in
Indiana after the war was over and
the reconstruction period under way,
was written by Mrs. Mary Wright Sew
all, suffrage leader Of the second
generation. and begins with q con-
vention held in indianapolis in June,
1859, and the "caIl' for 1t was headed
by Amanda M. Way! Among the
names signed were Mollie Krout and
Lizzie Boynton, afterward the we'll
known Journalists, Mary H. Krout and
Enzaoeth Boynton Harbert. Thence
forth annual conventions were held.
Mrs. Sewall identified herself with
the movement Immediately after COM
ing to Indianapolis to live in the early
seventies, and was theme eforth an i'm,
pelling factor. In 1878 the Indianapol-
Is Equal Suffrage Society was formed,
holding its first meeting April Q in the
home OF Mrs. Zerelda G. Wallace, who
became a national leader In suffrage
and temperance work. Mrs. Wallace
was president and Mrs. Sewall secre-
tary of this society. and under its
auspices many distinguished speakers
came to Indianapolis and the National
Suffrage Association was entertained.
The list of prominent suffrogists Of
those early days is a long one, and
includes Schuyler, Colfax. Governor AL
bert G. Porter, WilliamI Cumback,
Governor Baker, Professor Theodore
~ It'd AL IL ,oI
William r. Holloway, George c. Hard
ing. Mrs. Thomas A. Hendricks, Mrs.
John c. New. Miss Catherine Merrill,
Wallace. the Carey families, the
Deans. Mrs. Florence M. Atkinson,
Mrs. Gertrude Garrison and Mrs. L.
! May Wheeler, the writer's; the Rev.
| Myron w. Reed, Miss Mary c. Rari-
dan. Mr.. and Mrs. R. B. F. PIERCE, DR..
| Mary E. Haggart, Mrs. Charles Kreg-
| elo. Mrs. Paulina T. Merrill-in fact,
it is an injustice to mention names
and when one goes out over the
state the list of eminent names is end
less. Mrs. Helen M. Cougar, of
Lafayette. an able speaker. was a
power in the legislative work, which
was kept UP without ceasing, and be-
fore political conventions and on the
platform. After 1890 was reached 1t
would be useless to attempt roster.
The woman suffrage movement in
Indiana always has had the support of
representative men and women.
The story Of the experiences with
the legislature would be an interesting
one. and until recent years would not
add to the pride of an Indianian. In
the days when the name Of the state
was a synonym for corrupt politics
the woman suffrage amendment was
tossed from house to house: passed by
one legislature to be defeated by the
second: bartered or ignored, as hap
pened to suit both parties.
When one state after another en-
franchised women: when prohibition
began to sweep the land; when the
entrance of this country into the war
changed the entire status of women,
and when it was clearly demonstrated
that the vast majority of the women
in Indiana wanted the suffrage, the
effect was felt by the legislatures and
those Of recent years have added to
the credit Of the state. Women es-
recially will hold them in grateful
appreciation and remembrance.