History of Woman Suffrage/Volume 6/Chapter 24

 

CHAPTER XXIV.

MISSOURI.^[1]

When the last volume of the history of woman suffrage was written in 1900 Missouri was one of the blackest spots on the suffrage map and there was little to indicate that it would ever be lighter. The able and courageous women who inaugurated the movement in 1867, Mrs. Virginia L. Minor, Mrs. Beverly Allen, Mrs. Rebecca Hazzard, Miss Phoebe Couzins and Mrs. Sarah Chandler Coates, were no longer living or past the age for strenuous work. A few women kept up a semblance of a State organization, met annually and in 1901 Mrs. Addie Johnson was elected president; in 1902 Mrs. Louis Werth and in 1903 Mrs. Alice Mulkley, but there was great apathy among wonen in general. From 1903 to 1910 no State convention was held. In St. Louis, which comprised one-fourth of the inhabitants of the State, there was no visible organization working for woman suffrage. The largest and most influential woman's club refused to allow the subject on its programs. During the decade to 1910 only one speaker of national prominence came into the State — Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association — and evidently at the national headquarters Missouri was considered too hopeless to consider.

The movement was only smoldering, however, and needed but a spark to burst into flame and that spark came from afar — from the torch held high by the “militant" suffragists of England. In no State perhaps was there more bitter invective hurled at them than by the press and people of Missouri but the conscience of the convinced suffragists was aroused. Stirring addresses in St. Louis by Stanton Coit of London and John Lovejoy Elliott of New York in defense of the English “militants" MISSOURI 343 brought matters to a crisis and a few bold spirits decided to reorganize the scattered suffrage forces. In March, 1910, Mrs. Florence Wyman Richardson, Miss Marie R. Garesche and Miss Florence Richardson (later Mrs. Roland R. Usher) barely out of her teens, renounced society and invited twenty or twenty-five women, whom they thought might be interested, to meet in Miss Garesche's home. Only five responded, Miss Bertha Rombauer, Miss Jennie M. A. Jones, Mrs. Robert Atkinson, Miss Lillian Heltzell and Mrs. Dan Knefler. Not at all daunted it was decided as a first step to engage a prominent lecturer. Miss Ethel Arnold, the well- known Englishwoman, a suffragist but not a "militant," was then touring this country and before the meeting adjourned a telegram was sent to her and the eight women present guaranteed the sum to cover her charge and the rent of a hall. As her itinerary would bring her to St. Louis about the middle of April it was thought best to organize immediately, so that the publicity which would undoubtedly be given to Miss Arnold would be shared by the infant society. A circular letter outlining the project was sent broadcast and April 8 about fifty women gathered at the residence of Mrs. Richardson and effected an organization. Thus came into being the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League, which was destined to play the principal part in winning the vote for the women of the State. The following officers were elected : President, Mrs. Richardson; first vice-president, Miss Garesche; second, Mrs. Atkinson; corresponding secretary, Miss Rom- bauer ; recording secretary, Miss Heltzell ; treasurer, Mrs. Knefler ; auditor, Mrs. Leslie Thompson. Miss Arnold's lecture took place April 11 and her charm, ire and cogent reasoning won many friends to the cause and med many of its opponents. Branch organizations were formed in the northern and southern parts of the city with Mrs. Atlanta Hecker and Miss Cecilia Ka/.nvsky as presidents. Meetings were held in the Cabanne Branch Library and before nd of the year the members had increased to 275. 1 During 1 Thirteen men were enrolled this year, Eugene Angert, George Blackman, R V. RoTMelier, Dr. W. W. Boyd, Mr. Cha M. Grossman, Charles Haanel, Stephen > Van Dyke Hill, Dr. John C. Morfit, II. J. Peifer, Judge R. E. Roml-.iucr and Percy Werner. 344 , HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE the first year the league brought a number of lecturers to the city, realizing that this was the most valuable form of propa- ganda in a community so entrenched in conservatism. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Snowden of England ; Professor Frances Squire Potter of the University of Minnesota; Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead of Boston; Professor Nathaniel Schmidt of Cornell and Professor Earl Barnes of Philadelphia. On Nov. 3, 1911, Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst of England, at the invitation of the league, lectured in the Odeon, the largest hall in the city, to an audience that taxed its capacity. Her charming personality set at rest all fears as to the ill effect of suffrage, even of the "militant" variety, on feminine grace and refinement. Soon afterwards the Mary Institute Alumnae Asso- ciation invited Miss Sylvia Pankhurst to lecture and the result was most gratifying to the friends of suffrage. The old State organization having ceased to exist the St. Louis league with its branches and the recently formed Webster Groves Suffrage League, Mrs. Lee Roseborough, president, met in St. Louis Feb. 14, 1911, and organized a State Woman Suffrage Association, which affiliated with the National American Association. The officers were : President, Mrs. Atkinson ; vice- president, Mrs. Morrison-Fuller; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Boyd; recording secretary, Miss Rombauer; treasurer, Miss Jane Thompson; auditor, Mrs. R. D. McArthur. Owing to various causes this board was in a few months reduced to three working members, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Boyd and Miss Rombauer. Realizing that it must enlist the support of the press they sent out letters to a long list of the State editors and favorable replies were received from twenty-six, who promised to give a weekly column in their papers for suffrage news and propaganda. All the libraries were written to and a number of them induced to procure the four large volumes of the History of Woman Suf- frage, generously offered by the National Association. The librarians, who were often women, were asked to keep on hand a supply of suffrage literature. The St. Louis public library, at the suggestion of the board, made a special exhibit of this literature, much of which was new. In the center of the exhibit was a large picture of William T. Harris, former superintendent MISSOURI 345 of schools in St. Louis and later U. S. Commissioner of Educa- tion, with his strong testimony in favor of woman suffrage. Mrs. Atkinson was permitted to make an address on suffrage before the State Federation of Women's Clubs at Sedalia but no action was taken. She also addressed a large audience at the dedication of the Woman's Building which had been erected by the Legislature on the State Fair grounds near that city and Mrs. Walter McNab Miller of Columbia also made an address. The board paid a lawyer to compile the State laws for women under the direction of E. M. Grossman. Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. 1 and Mrs. John L. Lowes of St. Louis and Mrs. Virginia Hedges of Warrensburg went as delegates to the convention of the National Association in 1911 at Louisville, where much satisfaction was expressed that Missouri had at last come into the fold. The Kansas City League was organized this year with Mrs. Henry N. Ess, president; Miss Helen Osborn, secre- tary; and Mrs. Helena Cramer Leavens, treasurer. The women of Warrensburg, under the leadership of Miss Laura Runyon, organized a club of fifty members. There was the State Normal School, to whose faculty Miss Runyon belonged, and through her the support of the students was obtained and suffrage propa- ganda extended gradually to every section of the State. Mrs.

er, president of the St. Louis Women's Trades Union,

nized a league among its members, which, under the leader- ship of Mrs. Sarah Spraggon and Miss Sallie Quick, did excellent vi.rk in the campaigns that followed. In 1912 a Business Woman's Suffrage League was formed in St. Louis under the leadership of Miss Mary McGuire, a graduate of the St. Louis Tniversity Law School, and Miss Jessie Lansing Mollcr, which starting with 50 members, eventually numbered The same year the Junior I'ranch of the St. Louis League anized, which included many of the younger society girls and matrons. Miss Ann Drew (later Mrs. James Platt) was l(i it In Kansas City in the autumn the Southside Equal Suffrage League was formed with Mrs. Cora Kramer Leavens,

dent, and Miss Cora Best Jewell, secretary. A Men's K<|ual

I 'ague was also organized with D. II. Holt president ; I. li in, vice-president; David Proctor, secretary, which YOU VI 34-6 f HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE did a large work in securing the big vote given to the suffrage amendment in Kansas City and Jackson county in 1914. In 1912 the first State convention was held in September at Sedalia, where Mrs. George Gellhorn was elected president and Mrs. John W. Barringer vice-president, both of St. Louis. They went to Jefferson City in September and tried to get a suffrage plank into the platform of the Democratic State convention. Though unsuccessful it was the initial step in bringing the subject out of the parlor and lecture-room into the sphere of politics, the arena where the battle ultimately had to be fought. Twenty- eight leagues were formed this year. Miss Amelia C. Fruchte, member of the St. Louis Central High School faculty, went before the State Teachers' Association and secured its endorse- ment of woman suffrage. In 1913 at the State convention held at St. Louis in September, Mrs. Walter McNab Miller, formerly of Ohio, was elected State president. She had been the leading spirit in work for suffrage in Columbia, the seat of the State University, where her husband was a professor, and in November, 1912, an organization was formed with Dr. R. H. Jesse, former president of the university, at its head. Though the State in general was still apathetic the women in the large places, especially in St. Louis and Kansas City, were alert and active. Mrs. Richardson, after two strenu- ous years, had been succeeded by Mrs. David O'Neil as president of the St. Louis League. She was followed in October by Mrs. John L. Lowes, who had to resign from exhaustion and Mrs. O'Neil was again elected. The hard work that had been done was beginning to bear fruit and the Farmers' Alliance, the Prohibitionists, the Single Taxers and other organizations were seeking the cooperation of the suffrage societies. The press was giving more and more space to suffrage news. Mrs. Emily Newell Blair of Carthage was a powerful influence with country editors. The St. Louis Post Dispatch offered prizes amounting to $100 for the best argu- ments in favor and often contained strong editorials. Thanks largely to Miss Jane Winn, on the editorial staff of the Globe Democrat, suffrage news was seldom refused by that paper. The Kansas City Star and the Post gave strong support. Best of all, the women were gaining in courage and confidence. In September the managers of a Merchants' and Manufacturers' Street Exposition in St. Louis invited the suffragists to conduct a parade under their auspices and a large number of automobiles and auto-trucks gaily decorated with white and yellow bunting and accompanied by several bands of music went through the principal downtown streets. The crowds were respectful and occasionally enthusiastic. The enthusiasm of the paraders reached such a pitch that they left their protecting cars and marched boldly down the middle of the street, preceded by a band playing "Every- body's doing it." The details were arranged by Mrs. W. W. Boyd, Jr.

The time was judged to be ripe for an organized effort to secure action at the general election of 1914 and two plans pre- sented themselves : First, to ask the Legislature to submit to the voters an amendment to the State constitution giving full suffrage to women; second, to secure the necessary number of signatures under the newly enacted initiative petition law to place the amendment on the ballot regardless of action by the Legislature. The former method was tried first but the latter was found to be necessary. A finance committee was appointed by the league to raise funds for the campaign and at a luncheon in St. Louis amid great enthusiasm $i 1,000 were pledged, which were turned over to Mrs. B. B. Graham, campaign treasurer. Headquarters were opened down town with Mrs. Knefler, cam- paign manager, in charge. The interest aroused throughout the c by the circulating of the petition was manifested at the State ron vent ion in Columbia, in May, 1914, which was attended by a number of delegates from the country districts. Mrs. Miller re-elected president. On "suffrage day," May I, men and women addressed crowds between acts at different theaters and of public buildings. Miss Fola LaFollette was the B] at a large evening meeting and addressed the Men's City Club at luncheon the next day. The slogan was sent out and wide, "Suffrage for Missouri in 1914." After the heavy task of obtaining 14,000 names to the petition and a nuous campaign the amendment was defeated at the polls.

In 1915 an offer was made by a newspaper man in Monet to publish a suffrage magazine and eagerly accepted, the suffragists agreeing to furnish the material and to work up the subscriptions. Mrs. Blair was the first editor of the Missouri Woman and all went well for a few months, then the publisher failed. This was a keen disappointment but through the efforts of Miss Mary Bulkley and Percy Werner of St. Louis, Flint Garrison, president of the Garrison-Wagner Printing Company, a prominent Democrat and an ardent suffragist, became interested and agreed to publish the magazine. It was adopted as the organ of the State Federation of Women's Clubs and was endorsed by the State branch of the National Congress of Mothers and the State Parent Teachers' Association. In March, 1916, Mrs. Blair, owing to the difficulty of editing the magazine from her home in Carthage while it was published in St. Louis, resigned as editor and was succeeded by Miss Mary Semple Scott of St. Louis, who continued in that office during the remaining three years of its useful existence, until the women of the State had been partially enfranchised and the Federal Suffrage Amendment had been ratified by the Legislature. During 1916 the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League reorganized on political lines with a Central Committee composed of a member from each of the twenty-five wards. Mrs. William C. Fordyce, who for a long time had urged this action, was unanimously elected chairman. At the convention held in Springfield in May Mrs. John R. Leighty of Kansas City succeeded Mrs. Miller, who had been elected first vice-president of the National Association and would reside in Washington. At the meeting of the board held in St. Louis in June the State association also was reorganized on political lines and a Congressional Committee of sixteen members representing the sixteen congressional districts was appointed. The St. Louis League subscribed $500 to carry on the work and Mrs. Charles Passmore was made chairman. The committees appealed to the Republican State convention to put a plank for woman suffrage in its platform but with no success. Later, after the two national parties had adopted suffrage planks, an effort was made to have the State committees adopt the same plank but they refused. The National Democratic Convention held in St. Louis in MISSOURI 349 June, 1916, offered a splendid opportunity which both State and city suffragists eagerly seized. Some unique schemes were evolved, among them the "golden lane/' the idea of Mrs. Blair. It has been described as "a walkless, talkless parade" and con- '1 of about 7,000 women arranged in a double line on both sides of the street, the front row sitting, the back row standing, all dressed in white with yellow sashes and each one carrying a yellow parasol. They held their places on the opening day of the convention, June 14, from 10 a. m. till noon, on both sides of Locust Street for a distance of ten blocks, the route the delegates had to take in going from their headquarters in the Jefferson Hotel to the Coliseum, where the convention was held. Another striking appeal was in the form of a beautiful and imposing tableau staged on the steps of the old Art Museum, also on the route of the delegates, which was given with an occasional interval of rest for two long hours. The details were managed 1> Miss Virginia Stevenson. Under a canopy of gold cloth, which cast a glow over the group below, there stood at the top of the steps "Liberty," posed by handsome Mrs. O'Neil. Grouped about her were thirteen women dressed in white representing the twelve equal suffrage States and Alaska. Farther down on the were the States in which only partial suffrage had been granted, impersonated by women dressed in gray. At the bottom, in black, representing the States where women were wholly disfranchised, extending their manacled arms to Liberty. A mass meeting was held later in the day in the auditorium of Museum, when Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, William Jennings n, U. S. Senator John F. Shafroth and Mrs. Miller addressed thusiastic audiences. The Town Club, an organiza- women, gave a dinner with covers laid for 300, which was followed by music and speaking in front of the Jefferson el. On the same night there was street speaking on the principal down town corners for two hours, one speaker relieving he crowds called for more. Miss Scott brought out an impressive number of the Missouri Woman during the con- ion. William Hums, a well-known artist on the Post itch. (It-signed an attractive and significant cover and Miss Martin illustrate. 1 a story by Mrs. Blair; editors of 35 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE the St. Louis dailies, Louis Ely, Casper Yost and Paul W. Brown, contributed editorials and William Marion Reedy, editor of the St. Louis Mirror, wrote a charming article. The edition of 10,000 was sold at the bookstands and by volunteers who acted as "newsies." The business men advertised generously. The result partially of all the hard work and enthusiasm was a woman suffrage plank in the platform according to the Demo- cratic principle of State's rights, which, though not entirely satisfactory to the suffragists, was regarded as a decided victory. The entrance of the United States in the World War in 1917 acted as a deterrent of suffrage activities, as the various organiza- tions threw themselves whole-heartedly into war work. Mrs. Leighty, State chairman, Mrs. Stix, chairman of the St. Louis League, and other heads of suffrage societies throughout the State, had the difficult task of directing their activities in war work and at the same time keeping at the front the idea that, while working to make the world safe for democracy abroad, the cause of democracy at home demanded the speedy enfran- chisement of the women of America. Missouri's quota for the Oversea Hospitals organized by the National Suffrage Asso- ciation was $1,000. At a luncheon given by the St. Louis League May 8, where Mrs. Charles L. Tiffany of New York was the speaker, $4,331 were subscribed in fifteen minutes. Mrs. Miller was chairman of the Food Conservation Committee of the Na- tional Association and Mrs. George Gellhorn organized its work for Missouri. All demands of the Government were fully met. In May, 1917, the State convention was held at Kansas City and Mrs. Miller having returned from Washington was again elected president. This year a Men's Advisory Committee in St. Louis was formed composed of 147 well-known residents organized under the following leaders : Jackson Johnson, N. A. McMillan, Ernest W. Stix, Joseph Woracek, Edward F. Goltra, E. N. Grossman, Benjamin Gratz, J. L. Babler. A teachers' division including many thousand was formed, with Miss Tillie Geeks as president. Largely through the efforts of the executive secretary of the St. Louis league, Mrs, Lucille B. Lowenstein, its membership in 1918 was increased to 8,000. Mrs. Stix, resign- ing because of illness, Mrs. Gellhorn was elected. MISSOURI 351 At the State convention held at Macon in May, 1918, Mrs. Miller was re-elected. Owing to the splendid organization of the St. Louis League it was able to invite the National Suffrage Association to hold its Golden Jubilee in this city in 1919. It was held March 23-29 inclusive at the Statler Hotel with two evening - meetings at the Odeon, and was declared by Mrs. Catt to have been "the best convention ever held anywhere." A large

p of women worked indefatigably for weeks in advance to

make it a success but to Mrs. Gellhorn, chairman of the Local Arrangements Committee, must go the chief honor. Second must be placed the name of Mrs. Stix, who had raised the funds to defray the local expenses. On the evening of March 28 was held one of the mass meet- ings. The large auditorium of the Odeon, beautifully decorated for the occasion under the supervision of Mrs. Fred Taussig and Mrs. Kverett W. Pattison, was filled to overflowing. On the stage were Mrs. Catt, Dr. Shaw and the other national officers, also the speakers of the evening, among whom were Governor Henry J. Allen of Kansas and Miss Helen Frazier of England. Suddenly music was heard from the back. It heralded the ouri delegation, composed of Mrs. Miller, Mrs. David il, Mrs. V. R. Haight and Miss Marie B. Ames, who had been in Jefferson City for ninety-six days working in the interest of the Presidential suffrage bill and had just returned with the joyful tidings that it had passed both Houses! The delegation met at the door and escorted down the center aisle by Mrs. (iellhorn, holding aloft a banner bearing the words, "Now we The large audience rose spontaneously and amidst deafening cheers and wild waving of handkerchiefs and hats the women ascended to the stage, where they were individually pre- d to tin- audience by the presiding officer, I )r. Shaw, who ratulated them and the rest of the women of Missouri on the great victory. [Full account of convention in Chapter XVIII, Volume V.] To celebrate the success of this great convention and especially the winning of Presidential suffrage, the St. Louis League at its annual meeting in April gave a "victory tea" in the Statler Motel. The guests of honor were Senator James W. McKni-ht and 35 2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE Representative Walter E. Bailey, who had so successfully led the suffrage forces in the Senate and House. With music and the presentation to Mrs. O'Neil, in acknowledgment of her long and faithful services, of an illuminated testimonial, it was a de- lightful afternoon. Mrs. Fred English was elected president of the league. At the State convention held at St. Louis Mrs. Gell- horn was elected president, Mrs. Miller honorary president, Mrs. David O'Neil honorary vice-president of the association. With Presidential suffrage won, the work before both State and city association was obviously the organization and education of the new voters. At a State meeting held in Kansas City May 3, a "budget" ' system was adopted and a definite quota assigned to each county. Kansas City raised $3,000 at a banquet in the Muehlbach Hotel, Mrs. J. B. White presiding. St. Louis then raised its quota of $6,000 and another $6,000 was pro-rated throughout the remainder of the State, giving $15,000. The next step in order was the establishment of Citizenship Schools and the slogan "Every Missouri Woman an Intelligent Voter in 1920" was adopted. Under the direction of Mrs. Olive B. Swan, executive secretary of the State association, citizenship schools were arranged for in every one of the sixteen congres- sional districts. Miss Ames and Miss Lutie Stearns, two expert organizers, traveled through the State holding meetings and con- ducting schools. Mrs. Leighty and Mrs. Alfred Buschman as- sisted in this work. Mrs. English and Mrs. Clarke conducted all those in St. Louis. The Young Women's Christian Association allowed them the use of its auditorium for the first suffrage normal school. Some mothers of families got up at five o'clock and did part of their day's work in order to be able to attend; some women traveled miles in order to do so; others came to night classes after a hard day's work in office or school room. The St. Louis Board of Education recognized the import- ance of this work and offered to incorporate the citizenship schools in the night school system. It furnished the building and paid the instructors, the St. Louis League managed the schools. The response of the colored women to these opportunities was espe- cially noteworthy; in one school over 300 were in constant at- tendance. Mrs. McBride, secretary of the Jackson county MISSOURI 353 suffrage league, conducted classes throughout the county. Kansas City secured Professor Isador Loeb of the University of Missouri for a course of lectures on government. All the women's clubs united into one school. The course included principles of govern- ment, organization, publicity, public speaking, suffrage history and argument, parliamentary law and use of literature. The submission of the Federal Suffrage Amendment by Con- gress in June, 1919, was celebrated with the greatest joy through- out the State. Prominent suffragists in St. Louis waited upon Mayor Keil, the board of aldermen and other city officials and escorted them in gaily decorated automobiles to the steps of the Office, where the Mayor, an old friend of woman suffrage, made a rousing speech. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Gellhorn also spoke and Charles M. Hay closed the meeting with an eloquent address. In Kansas City a similar meeting was held in one of the large theaters. RATIFICATION. Steps were at once taken to secure the ratifi- cation of the amendment by the Legislature. Edward F. Goltra, National Democratic Committeeman, a proved friend, and Ben Is, State Democratic chairman, were often asked for advice and other help. Jacob Babler, Republican National Committee- man, and W. L. Cole, Republican State chairman, Mayor Keil and many others of both political parties assisted the suffrage iations in placing before Governor Gardner the urgency of calling a special session. He was not slow in responding and called for July 2, 1919. All the suffrage organizations in the State, with the Federated Clubs and the Woman's Christian 'IVmperance Union, started to work immediately to make sure large majority. Legislators were visited by their constitu- and letters and telegrams were showered on them by proini men and women from other sections of the State. On July i the MiffragisN gathered in Jefferson City and opened ate board meeting with a luncheon and speeches at the New ral Hotel to which every one was welcome. At 7 o'clock the at ion dinner took place, with members of the Legislature ivited guests of tin association. Every foot of e in the dining-room, ante-room and lobby of the hotel was 354 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE filled with tables. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor were escorted to the hall by prominent suffragists and both made stirring appeals. At 10 o'clock the morning of July 3, a procession of women wended its way from the hotel to the beautiful new Capitol. The yellow parasols, which had figured in every suffrage cele- bration since the time of the historic Golden Lane in 1916, were everywhere in evidence and yellow banners, ribbons and flowers gave the dominant note of color to the scene. The galleries in both Senate and House were filled. The resolution passed the House by a vote of 125 to 4; the Senate by a vote of 29 to 3. A great sorrow came in the midst of the rejoicing, as the news was received that Dr. Anna Howard Shaw died the evening before the ratification. She had addressed the Legislature in other years and both Houses passed resolutions of regret. Missouri women will forever remember gratefully the 5Oth General Assembly, as it did all possible for it to do toward their enfranchisement. It memorialized Congress urging the passage of the Federal Suffrage Amendment; it passed the Presidential suffrage bill and it promptly ratified the Amendment. A called convention of the State association was held October 1 6- 1 8, at the Hotel Statler in St. Louis and the name was changed to the Missouri League of Women Voters. Mrs. Gell- horn was elected chairman. Every district was represented by the 122 delegates present. LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 1913. A petition signed by 14,000 voters of the State, of whom 8,000 were from St. Louis, was presented to the Legislature asking it to submit an amend- ment for woman suffrage at the election of 1914. The women who had had charge of the petition were Mrs. David O'Neil, president, Miss Mary Bulkley, Miss Charlotte Rumbold and Mrs. William C. Fordyce of the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League and Mrs. St. Clair Moss and Mrs. Rose Ingels of Columbia. A letter had been sent to every legislator saying that all he was asked to do was to help get the amendment before the voters. The resolution was introduced by Representative Thomas J. Roney and Senator Anderson Craig. It was referred to the House and Senate Committees on Constitutional Amendment MISSOURI 355 and a joint hearing was set for February 6. A number of women from different parts of the State appeared before these committees and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National Suf- frage Association, disarmed all prejudice. There was a unanimous favorable report from the Senate Committee and only one adverse vote in the House Committee. A week later the resolution was sent to engrossment by both Houses with but five dissenting votes in the Senate while in the House the "ayes" were so overwhelming that the "noes" were not; counted. The women went home feeling that the fight was won but the last week of the session the resolution was taken off the calendar, referred back to the committees and pigeon-holed. The women then decided to resort to the newly created device of the "initiative petition," by which the amendment could be submitted without legislative action. Mrs. Walter McNab Miller urged to take charge of the work, the St. Louis Suffrage League agreeing to look after the three most difficult congres- sional districts. She began the latter part of August to canvass a State that has 114 counties, in many of which there are no railroads and the other roads are almost impassable. After six weeks of constant travel and hard work she obtained only 1,000 names. The cooperation of Mrs. Nellie Burger, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the only woman's organ- ization in the State outside of the regular suffrage societies which had endorsed suffrage, was then secured. The St. Louis and Kansas City leagues took the most thickly populated districts the others were apportioned among little bands of suffragists, who. under the leadership of Mrs. Miller, worked steadily for the next six months. At last the required 14,000 signatures were obtained and representatives from each district went to Jefferson to present the petitions to Secretary of State Cornelius Roach. I Ie received them in a most friendly manner, saying that he hoped this work, which had been done at such great c d bring the desired reward. It had only he^un and the ta^k during the next six months was duce the men to vote for the amendment, which now had an assured place on the ballot. Help came from the outside. ELS well as within the State. Ruth Hanna (Mrs. Medill) Me 356 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE Cormick of Chicago, chairman of the Congressional Committee of the National Association, sent an organizer and paid her expenses for four months. From friends outside $3,264 were sent and about $1,800 were raised in various ways in the State. Dr. Shaw and Miss Jane Addams spoke in several cities and other prominent speakers were Mrs. Desha Breckinridge of Ken- tucky, Miss Helen Todd of California, Mrs. McCormick and "General" Rosalie Jones of New York. The State and county fairs were utilized. Headquarters were rented in a big down- town building in St. Louis with Miss Rumbold as director of publicity, Miss Genevieve Tierney and Mrs. R. L. San ford in charge of the business part, Mrs. Alice Curtis Moyer-Wing head of the speakers' bureau and Miss Bulkley treasurer. Mrs. Blair had charge of the press work for the State, Miss Clara Sommer- ville for St. Louis. 1 The St. Louis Times, the Kansas City Post and the Varrensburg Daily Star allowed the women to get out a special suffrage edition. All the hard work of a year and a half was in vain. On Nov. 3, 1914, the woman suffrage amendment went down to defeat with fourteen other amendments on the ballot. More votes were cast on this one than on any other 182,257 ayes; 322,463 noes; lost by 140,206. In Kansas City the adverse majority was only 1,000. Thirteen counties were carried. 1915. It had been decided at the first State board meeting after the defeat to attempt again to have an amendment sub- mitted by the Legislature. Mrs. Miller took charge of the work and remained six weeks in Jefferson City. The resolution was written by Judge Robert Franklin Walker, now Chief Justice of Missouri, and was introduced by Senator Craig and Representa- tive Roney, as before. A joint hearing was arranged at which twelve Missouri women, representing various professions and ocupations, spoke five minutes each. It passed the House by 88 ayes to 42 noes. Through the efforts of Senator William Phelps, who was showered with letters and telegrams from his constituents, the committee, a majority of whom were violently 1 Because of lack of space it has been impossible to include the long lists of names prepared of women who worked all over the State. MISSOURI 357 opposed to woman suffrage, was persuaded to report it favorably but it did not come to a vote in the Senate. 1916. As the Federal Amendment was now well advanced and the bad effect on it of the loss of a State campaign was clearly recognized, the National Board asked the officers of each State association to refrain from entering into one. Therefore it was agreed at the State convention in May, 1916, to give up the projected campaign. 1917. A bill for Presidential suffrage, which was approved by the national officers, was introduced. Headquarters were opened in the Capitol with Miss Geraldine Buchanan of Cali- fornia, Mo., in charge and a strong lobby of State women re- mained there during the session Mrs. Leighty, Mrs. Fordyce, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Passmore and Mrs. Grossman of St. Louis. Mrs. Katherine Smith, daughter of Judge Walker, and Miss Matilda Dahlmeyer of Jefferson City gave effective aid. Percy Werner, a lawyer of St. Louis, agreed to defend its legal status before the Legislature if necessary and in January it was intro- duced by Senator Robert J. Mitchell of Aurora and Representa- tive Xick Cave of Fulton. It was reported favorably by the House Committee but when it came to a hearing before the Senate committee there appeared Miss Minnie Bronson from Xew York, secretary of the National Anti-Suffrage Association. The speaker in favor was Mrs. Fordyce, a granddaughter of the pioneer suffragist, Mrs. Beverly Allen. The House passed it by 87 to 37 but the Senate defeated it. Missouri women now turned their attention to furthering the ral Suffrage Amendment. The Congressional Committee appointed for this purpose worked indefatigably and early in January, armed with two large bundles of petitions for it, one i the State and one from St. Louis, aggregating 75,000 names, a delegation went to Washington. Mrs. Miller, vice- president of the National Association, arranged, with the assist- ance of Miss Mabel Stone, daughter of the Missouri Senator, William R. Stone, for a meeting in his office between them and State's members of Congress. They presented their petitions and made earnest appeals for the amendment. Suffragists throughout the State kept up a constant stream of 35$ HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE telegrams and letters to the Missouri members and Governor Gardner used his influence. Senator Stone, and after his death Senator Xenophon P. Wilfley, were pledged to the amendment, and Senator Selden P. Spencer, who later was elected, could positively be depended upon. All possible efforts were concen- trated upon Senator James A. Reed but to no avail. To disprove his statements that his constituents were not in favor of woman suffrage, the Jackson county campaign committee, with Mrs. J. B. White of Kansas City chairman, sent him the signatures of 47,382 women and 12,583 men from his district, asking for it. When the amendment came to a vote in 1918, Senator Wilfley and all the Representatives voted in the affirmative except Meeker of St. Louis, who died soon afterwards. In 1919 Senator Spen- cer and the entire delegation in the House voted in favor. Sena- tor Reed fought it every time it came before the Senate. Delegations of women appeared before the State conventions of both parties on the same day in August, 1918, and asked for a suffrage plank. Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O'Neil and Mrs. Stix at- tended the Democratic convention in Jefferson City; Mrs. Gell- horn and Mrs. Grossman, assisted by others, looked after the Republican convention in St. Louis. They were invited to speak and each party put a very good suffrage plank in its platform. 1919. Work for Presidential suffrage was continued. Extra pressure was brought to bear on the Senate. Two national organizers, Miss Ames and Miss Alma Sasse, were sent into various senatorial districts to enlist the help of influential people and when the time came for a vote it undoubtedly was favorable pressure from home that kept some of the Senators in line. When the General Assembly convened Jan. 8, 1919, Governor Gardner recommended such suffrage legislation as the women might desire. Through the courtesy of Lieutenant Governor Crossley, President of the Senate, and S. F. O'Fallon, Speaker of the House, it was the first bill introduced. On February 6 the Presidential bill was put on the cal- endar over the adverse report of the Election Committee, an action almost without precedent. On the nth the Speaker left the chair and delivered a powerful address urging its passage. Representative Frank Farris also made a strong speech in its MISSOURI 359 favor and the final vote was 122 ayes, 8 noes. The opposition used every device to prevent it from being brought up for the final reading in the Senate but finally the time was set for March 28. On that date two of the Senators favoring it were absent and their votes were absolutely necessary. Senator David W. Stark was at his home in Westline and Senator Howard Gray had been called on important business to Caruthersville. On the jjth Mrs. Miller, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. Haight and Miss Ames, who had been in Jefferson City for over three months, met for final consultation. Senator Stark responded to a telephone call and promised to be in his seat the next morning. It was found it would be impossible for Senator Gray to arrive on time. They were in despair but a savior was at hand. Democratic National Committeeman Edward F. Goltra offered to charter a special train to bring Senator Gray, a Republican, to Jefferson City in time to cast his vote. This offer was gladly and gratefully ac- cepted and the Senator left Caruthersville that night. The next morning all the other Senators were in their seats, the opposition complacent and confident that the bill could not pass. While

t or Me Knight was reading a telegram from the National

Suffrage Convention in session at St. Louis urging the imme- diate passage of the Presidential suffrage bill Senator Gray quietly walked in and took his seat! The opposition, out-witted and out-gciK-raled, threw up their hands and the bill was passed vote of 21 to 12, some of its former opponents voting for it. On April 5 in the presence of the board of the State association it was signed by Governor Gardner.

 

1. The History is indebted for this chapter to Miss Marie R. Garesche, a founder and first vice-president of the St. Louis Equal Suffrage League.