Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-27
WOMEN WON VOTE
| JUST 10 YEARS AGO.
18th Amendment Followed
Persistent Struggle
Against Odds. k

~ the Associated Press.
Ten years ago yesterda the right OF
women TO vote throughout the United
States was proclaimed.
The slender, quiet man who made
valid the instrument Of announcement
cambridge Colby, Secretary Of State
performed the act without benefit OF
news cameramen. 1t was q sweltering
day. A messenger ran up the walk OF q
spacious residence; the Secretary took
the proclamation, carried it to his desk
and quietly signed 1t. The nineteenth
amendment was in erect.
Women's organizations preparing TO
celebrate this decennial anniversary OF
their victory, discovered that not q
single picture was made OF the event.
Its simplicity throws into sharper OUT
lines the events Of the strenuous years
preceding.
leaders are recalling those years to-
day. They are calling up q Swift-moV-.
ing succession of events, in each OF
which the same eager, determined faces
appear--Alice Paul, Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, DR.. Anna Shaw, Mary Gar
rett Hay, Inez Milholland, Maud
Younger.
EQUAL Rights Amendment Sought.
While they reminisce. they look for
ward to another campaign for blanket
declaration of equal rights" for men
and women in the Constitution. The
National Women's party is going after
an amendment carrying this declaration.
Rare in history is the campaign like
that the women waged Tor the ballot.
It goes back to 1878. when the Susan B.
Anthony amendment was introduced.
lat - Anf1gN
passed the measure for the first time,
but not until the last month Of 1912 did
the issue become q SNOWFALL OF public
opinion.
Then Alice Paul, slim young social
worker, came from New Jersey and
started work. Women fiocked to her
command. Her generalship Is still o
thing for conversation.
stole Inaugural Show.
The day Woodrow Wilson came to
town for his first Inauguration she had
a parade in progress. The feminists
say the President-elect stepped from
his train, asking, Where are the peo-
ple?" and was answered, Down on
the Avenue, watching the suffragists."
That procession was dispersed by the
police, but within q few weeks deputa-
ton of women was knocking at the
they demanded his support in vain.
They concentrated ON adding to the
number of States giving women the
vote
Through the years more Populations
went to the President. On January 3,
1917, President Wilson informed them
he would receive no more; that their
next step must be to concert public
opinion. The next day found them
picketing the White House.
Peaceful picketing continued-in rain,
In sleet, In snow-until police began q
series Of arrests. Between 400 and 500
women were arrested; before the end,
Miss Paul, the leader, had been placed
under observation In q pSychopathic
ward. Some actually went to the work
house, served their sentences and re-
turned to their picketing.
Inspiration Born In Prison.
But out of prison was born fresh in
srdration: q prison special soon was
steaming through the country, carrying
the former prisoners to tell the story.
IN January, 1918, Wilson declared
himself in favor of the amendment.
The next day it passed the House, only
to be defeated in the Senate. Then be-
gantintensive lobbying, which, Miss Paul
later said, cost 10000 in five months
and resulted in gain Of five Senator'S"
with the beginning of the special ses-
sion in 1919-called to pass appropri-
atom bills-the women renewed their
efforts. They encountered tremendous
criticiim for perSisting at this time;
but they weathered the storm of CEN
sure. vOn June the Senate passed the
by slender margin.
There was great rejoicing; but the
leaders did not stop until the thirty
sixth state, Tennessee, had ratified.
The final act in their drama did not
occur un til 1920, when, at the Repub-
lican national convention in Chicago,
they marched, line beside line. each
bearing d. banner reading, I'VE are
here. Where Is the thirty sixth Slater"