Evening journal., 1920-01-28
women HOPEFUL
OF GETTING Vote
Suffragists Bend Effort
Toward Ratification Be
fore February IS
is CENTENARY
OF MISS ANTHONY

Delaware women. suffragisls and anti
suffragists, are Interested acutely in the
fact that February 70, 1920, will be the
centenary Of Susan B. Anthony. the suf-
frage pioneer,
It is hoped by suffragsts that before
that time the complete ratification Of
the Federal amendment may be ac-
complished: and so furnish the most nt-
ting celebration in honor OF the woman
who devoted her life to the cause Of
political freedom for women. To that
end the Natioral Woman's party is cam
paiming now for speedy action by the
ten additional States needed TO make
the suffrage amendment part OF the Fed
eral constitution
At this time twenty-slx states have
ratified the amendment. dates have been
set for special sessions Of the legisla-
lures OF Wyoming. Idaho and New Mex
leo. an OF which will occur before
February IS. A special session Is also
promised In Arizona before that time.
IL is probable, therefore, that at least
thirty states will have ratified by Miss
Anthony's centenary.
There Is no woman IN Delaware who
has worked more energetically and eff
fectively TO promote the cause OF wom-
an suffrage than has Mrs. Florence Bay
ard Hilles, wife OF William s Hilles, a
prominent Delaware lawyer, and
daughter Of former Ambassador Thomas
4. Bayard While Mrs. Hilles has been
unable 10 obtain a specian session OF the
Delaware Legislature TO pass upon the
suffrage amendment 10 the Federal |
constitution. she. in common with many |
other friends Of suffrage. recognizes
that she hiss been mp against a situa-
-ion here quite foreign TO the sur
frage issue. that has constrained Gov
ernor Townsend TO refrain from issu-
ing n call for such a session. II Is rec |
ognized generally by suffragists that II
The governor by his call could nave
restricted the work Of the Legislature
10 consideration OF the suffrage amend !
ment. that call would have been issued
long ago.
Miss Susan B. Anthony. the first mill
tant sufiragst was born in South Ad-
ans. Mass. on February IS, 1920. She
died on March i3, 1906.
Her father was a cotton manufac-
tuiurer, and a liberal Quaker who edu-
Gated his daughters TO be self support
Ing The family moved in 1926 to Wash
lngion county, New York and In 1876 to
Rochester.
Public work-Taught in New York
state from 1885 to 1850: first spoke in
public IN 1917; took active part in tenn
Derance movement; called temperance
-. -. o
Sew York State Temperance Society in
ls52; became prominent among aDo-
ftionlsts in 1851
Suffrage work-Became leader in the
movement for women's rights, after the
arst Women's Rights Convention at Sem
eca Falls. New York. in isis
During 1854 and 1855 held suffrage
conventions In every county in New
York.
In 1860. started petition in favor
OF leaving the word male out OF the
fourteenth amendment.
During the Civil War in spite Of her
protests, women were prevailed upon to
give I'D their work for suffrage by the
promise OF men in Congress that when
the war was over "justice would be
done them This promise was broken,
so the suffrage campaign was taken up
again.
After the Civil War, Miss Anthony de-
cided to undertake state campaigns so
that the demand OF the women for ma
tional enfranchisement would have be-
hind r.. the power OF votes.
In 1851 she. with Elizabeth Cady Stan
ton and Lucy stone, obtained 5000
votes for suffrage in Kansas. She was
arrested in 1872.
Susan B. Anthony was the first
American sufrragist to be arrested for
her principles In order TO test the
i5th and 18th amendments. she cast
ballots at the state and congressional
elections at Rochester in 1872. She was
indicted for illegal voting and ilne i'm
posed. She deflantly refused to pay the
fne but was never jailed.
she drafted the federal suffrage
amendment in 1873 IN the same form
in which It was passed in 1919 Had
II nrss introduced into the U. s. Sem
ate in 1878
Here Is a summary Of the suffrage ,
accomplishments during 400 years since
susan B. Anthonys birth:
In 1870. no state in the Union and
no foreign country allowed women to
vote.
In 1920. 100000 American women
are eligible TO vote for president and
100000 eligible to vote for members
OF Congress
In 26 states. women have full or |,
presidential suffrage and primary suf-
frage in ? states
In 81 foreign countries women have
fun suffrage.
Since Susan B Anthony started her
agitation, millions Of dollars have been
rissed and spent, years spent in Pc
titioning. speaking and campaigning,
between 200 and 500 arrests were made
of american sumrdEists ami i64 WOMEN
have served Jail sentences Of from 3
days to months.
Susan B. Anthony prophesied that
American women would vote I'm 1920 II
that prophecy is to be fulhlled, ten
mere states must ratify the suffrage
amendment twenty-six having done so
UP TO January 20.
uISSIO<tQV SnCIE'Ty NEI-tf>,