Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/729

* WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE, 621 WOMAN'S SUFFKAGE. Salem, Ohio, in April, 1850, Uie tliird at Worces- ter, Mass., in Oetober, 1850, and tlereafter a convention was held every year until the Civil War. In 18.')2 an af,'itation fen' dress reform was started, and the weariiij^ of the bloomer costume was a proof of allegiance to the canse. Woman suffragists were riiliculcd, and accused of being advocates of free love, easy divorce, and the amalgamation of races; but a few prominent men — Horace Greeley among them — treated the ques- tion with respect. The societies of the Civil War developed women's organizing powers. The Loyal National League got up a niamnioth petition to have the Constitution proliibit slavery. JCo suffragist con- ventions met during the war, and interest in negro suffrage after the war frequently drew attention from the woman's cause. The Kansas campaign divided the suflfragist supporters. In 1809 two national associations Avere formed. In Jlay, in New York, the National Woman's Suffrage As- sociation, with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton as leaders, was organized. This association met in Washington every winter until 1890. In November, in Cleveland, the American Woman's Suffrage Association was organized with Lucy Stone, Julia Ward Howe, and such men as William Dudley Foulke, George F. Hoar, and Henry B. Blackwell as leaders. The two associations were finally united into the National American Woman's Suffrage Association in 1890. In 1892 Mrs. Stone and Mrs. Stanton were made honorary presidents: Miss Anthony remained as the active president until 1900, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt. Methods of Work. The adoption of the Four- teenth Amendment introduced the word 'male' into the Constitution of the LTnited States. In 1869 Francis Minor argued that women were en- franchised by this amendment. A number of Women accordingly voted in 1872. Miss Anthony was arrested. Mrs. Virginia L. Minor was re- fused a vote in Saint Louis. She brought suit and the ease was decided against her on March 29, 1875. Up to this time women had demanded a declaratory act from Congress. Since then Congress has been petitioned to submit a six- teenth amendment. The 200 petitions of 1900 represented millions of individuals. The Forty- eighth Congress had a select committee on woman's suffrage. There have been eleven favor- able Congressional reports ( five from the Senate and six from the House). Committees of women have regularly appeared before the Congressional committees, and in 1902 representative foreign women, who could vote, added their protest. Beginning with the Democratic convention of 1868, an important work of the association has been to request the indorsement of an amendment >y political conventions. Only once have women been permitted to address a Re])ublican conven- tion — in Cincinnati in 1870. The Republican resolutions of 1S72 and 1876 expressed mild approval of women's progress. In 1890 a plank favored their entrance into wider spheres. Women delegates from Utah and Wyoming sat in the conventions of 1892 and 1900. Women have twice spoken at Democratic con- ventions: in Saint Louis (1871)) and Cincin- nati (1880). In 1900 Jlrs. Cohen of Utah, as a delegate, seconded Bryan's nomination. Although ■women served as delegates and as speakers and were mentioned in the )>reamlde to the platform, the I'oi)ulists refused to sujiport their cause. Some State and county conventiims, however, declared for woman's sull'rage. The I'ruliibition Party always had a suffrage plank until 1890. The tireenbaek, Labor, and Socialist parties have declared for equal suffrage. Laljor organiza- tions, including the Kniglits of Labor and the American Federation of Labor, have generally been favorable to woman's suffrage. Within the States efforts are made by legisla- tion, amendments, or in new Constitutions to .secure recognition for women, and also to urge laws needed for women. Some of the older States have strong woman suffrage associations and manj' equal rights and political equality clubs. The Southern States have been organized 1)3' woman suffragists only since 1S90. Wonu'n have secured full suffrage in Wyoming (1869), Colorado (1893), Utah (1870-1887 as Territory; 1895), and Idaho (1890) ; mimicipal suffrage in Kansas (1887) ; school suffrage, varying in ex- tent, in 25 States ; suffrage on questions of tax levies in Louisiana (1898) ; and on bond issues in Iowa (1894). Amendments have been sub- mitted and campaigns fought in Kansas (1869, 1894), Michigan (1874), Nebraska (1882), Oregon (1884. 1900). Rhode Island (1886), Washington (1889, 1898), South Dakota (1890, 1898), and California (1890). The only back- ward steps have been an adverse decision of the Supreme Court of Washington Territory in 1888, and the taking away of school suffrage from sec- ond-class cities in Kentucky. During the New York campaign of 1894 an Anti-Suffrage Association was organized in Brooklyn. Another followed at Albany, and after a convention a State association was formed. Signatures to negative petitions are se- cured, claiming that women already have enough responsibilities. A Massachusetts State organi- zation of anti-suffragists was formed in 1895; one in Illinois in 1897; one in Oregon in 1899; and one in Victoria, Australia, in 1900. Massa- chusetts also had a 'Man's Suffrage Association' in 1895 to protest against women's voting. Foreign Countries. In England .leremy Ben- tham early recognized the injustice of the law toward women, but he considered prejudices too strong to be combated. Bailey, in the Rationale of Political Representation (18.3.5), advocated equal rights. In 1850 an article in the West- minster Rerieio occasioned much interest. John Stuart Mill's Subjection of Women is the most powerful essay on the subject. He himself in Parliament in 1857 advocated the enfranchise- ment of women; and during the seventies the subject was debated every year. During the eighties, English women organized a number of leagues for cooperation with men: the Primrose League (1883). the Woman's Liberal Federation (1885), and the Woman's Liberal Unionist As- .sociation (18SS). thus demonstrating their in- terest in politics. Women in England. Scotland, and Ireland can now vote in all except Parlia- mentary elections. Property laws were modified in 1882 and 1893. Women have full suffrage in New Zealand, the Isle of Man, Pitcairn Island, South Australia, and West Australia. LTnder the new Federal Constitution of Australia women may vote. In Canada, Cape Colony, and Tasmania women have municipal suffrage.