The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-05-07


1t was in this year that Miss Alice Paul and
Miss Lucy Burns Identified themselves with the
national association. Miss Paul was 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 Women's Social and Political
union of Great Britain.
Miss Paul and Miss Burns did not long re-
main with the national association. They organ
lied the Congressional union lines similar to
those which the Pankhurst organization was
formed. In 1915 this became known the Ma
tional Woman's party
The Womans party leaders. the 'picketing suf-
fragsts." they often called began to
work for the passage of the eighteenth amend
ment but they followed entirely different
They adopteu militant tactics. they staged
the spectacular. Their success lay In psyche
logical analysis of mems character hitherto not
considered In the suffrage campaign. They un-
derstood the dislike almost fear that men have
Of being ridicuIed And the Womans party lead
ers played on that fear. They caused senator's
and representatives to be laughed at and rd-
culed whenever they could and they did not
draw the line at the president.
The Woman's party organizers went to prison.
and Miss Paul wns forcibly fed. Her followers
were rendy md willing to submit to the same
where they were 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 heen I'm
prisoned for having picketed the White House.
Both organizations have had representatives
in each Of the states where the eighteenth amend
melt was TO come before the state legislature,
whether In regular or special session.
The League Of Women Voters has been criti-
cized as 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 to
remain outside Of those parties and obtain the
things we wish without petitioning them?
"If we are still to be petitioners. what the
idea of getting the vote?
"Afore and the parties are becoming the
powers In this country. Instead of appealing to
them. 1t Is better to get the inside and get the
things you desire.
you'll discover that your Illusions will be
shattered and If you are not careful. you'll be
lulled into the satisfaction Of having reached the
political penumbra' where most Of the men are.
But If you keep going you'll find little denser
thing farther That is the .numbrn. In that
you'll find the men who doing things. form
ing the platform directing the policies. You will
not be welcome there. but that Is the place to
60 You'll find the real thing in the CENTER with
the door locked tight. You will have to open II. :.
OF the long hard struggle for woman suffrage
Mrs. Gait said In part
I'VE should he glad and grateful today. but
more, should be proud-proud that the years
Of organized endeavor have been clean. construc-
tive Conscientious
"In every 1t sowed the seeds of justice
and trusted to time to bring the harvest 1t 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
Wa he first dn o
with contempt and ridicuIe In their hearts. but
went out the last day won TO our cause md later
became editors of newspapers and spoke to thou
sands in behalf through influential editorial
columns. Little girls to meetings. lis
tened and accepted and later 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. It has
been army Of volunteers who have estimat led
sacrifice too great. no service too difficult.
'It has had great, peerless women in ts ranks
all down the decades. Brave Abigail Adams with
her gentle threats Of rebellion. Ernestlne Rose
striving for property rights for women Abby
Kelly fighting for free speech against a mob
armed with rotten eggs. The Grimke sisters pro
Silver-voiced Lucy Stone tackIng UP her own
handbs for meetings of her arrangement
DR.. Elizabeth Blackwell pretending not TO care
although the women OF Geneva scorned hc-, the
first woman medical student.
VERY gentle and wfnsome Antoinette Brown
standing unmoved before the convention of cIer-
gymen transformed into dsorderiy mob because
a had been duly elected delegate ~
their temperance convention.
"Elizabeth Cady Stanton. with her mntcnless
state papers, Glorious Susan b. Anthony whose
ndomitahe will kept things stirring for 10 years
and more And greatest Of them all. with her
transcendent gifts. Anna Howard Shaw