Page:History of Woman Suffrage Volume 5.djvu/747

WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN PRESIDENTIAL CONVENTIONS 7OQ Its president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, in the letters sent to the delegates, who were circularized three times, called attention to the great gains and the existing status of the movement, adapting the appeal to each party. Under her direction, as a preliminary to the conventions, favorable opinions were obtained from many leading men who were to attend them, similar to the following: Representative John M. Nelson of the House Judiciary Commit- tee said : "The endorsement of equal suffrage by either of the two great parties would do more at this time to simplify the question than any other one thing. It seems to me that in direct- ing their efforts toward securing this endorsement its advocates have exhibited sound practical judgment and admirable political acumen." "I am in favor of an endorsement in the Republican platform of the principle of equal suffrage/* said Senator Borah, a Republican delegate. "I have no doubt there will be a plank offered to that effect and it will receive my active support." U. S. Senator Owen on the floor of the Senate declared : "This demand ought to be made by men as well as by thinking, progressive women. I hope that all parties will in the national conventions give their approval to this larger measure of liberty to the better half of the human race." The suffragists began preparations for two striking demonstrations during the conventions. The Republican convention took place in Chicago June 7-10. On the 6th a mass meeting was held under the auspices of the association at the Princess Theater. Speeches by Mrs. Catt and others roused the audience to great enthusiasm and the follow- ing resolution was adopted : "We, women from every State, gath- ered in national assembly, come to you in the name of justice, liberty and equality to ask you to incorporate in your platform a declaration favoring the extension of suffrage to the only re- maining class of unenfranchised citizens, the women of our na- tion, and to urge you to give its protecting power and prestige to the final struggle of women for political liberty. We are not a -king your endorsement of an untried theory but your rec< timi of a fact. The men of eleven States and Alaska have already fully enfranchised their women and Illr --ited a 1. degree of suffrage, including the Presidential vote. The women