Title: The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 2 of 2)
Author: Ida Husted Harper
Release date: January 30, 2010 [eBook #31125]
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Richard J. Shiffer and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber's Note
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and other inconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious error is noted at the end of this ebook.
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Vol. II.
Political Candidates—Writing the History. (1880-1881.)515-532
Miss Anthony's rallying cry; letter on death of sister; Convention
at Indianapolis; Mass Meeting in Farwell Hall, Chicago; suffrage
advocates neither unmarried nor childless; Republican National
Convention refuses even "recognition" plank of former years;
Greenback-Labor Convention passes Woman Suffrage resolution in
spite of Dennis Kearney; Democratic Convention at Cincinnati
receives ladies with great courtesy but ignores their claims;
tribute of Commercial; Prohibition Convention adopts Suffrage
plank; interviews with Garfield and Hancock; correspondence of
General Garfield and Miss Anthony on Woman Suffrage; martyrdom to
writing the History; Thirteenth Washington Convention and memorial
service to Lucretia Mott; ridiculous press items on Skye terrier;
letter on sparing parents for children's sake; first volume of
History issued.
The Legacy—Nebraska Campaign—Off for Europe. (1881-1882-1883.)533-550
National Association in Boston; badge presented Miss Anthony by
Philadelphia Citizens' Suffrage Association; comments of Traveller
and Globe; sweep of New England; tribute of Zerelda G. Wallace; no
welcome for Miss Anthony in Albany; letter on death of Garfield;
attends National W. C. T. U. Convention in Washington; Phillips'
seventieth birthday; Mrs. Eddy's handsome legacy; Fourteenth
Washington Convention; amusing suffrage debate in Senate; meeting
in Philadelphia; tributes from Elmira Free Press and Washington
Republic; favorable Senate and House Committee reports; campaign in
Nebraska; addresses Lincoln Club, Rochester; decides to go abroad;
Philadelphia Times account of Birthday reception; Mrs. Sewall's
description in Indianapolis Times of farewell honors; fine tributes
from Chicago Tribune and Kansas City Journal; N. Y. Times describes
departure for Europe.
Miss Anthony's European Letters. (1883.)551-579
On shipboard; in Liverpool and London; in Milan and Rome; in
Naples; in Zurich, Berlin, Cologne, Heidelberg; in Paris; back to
London; Mrs. Jacob Bright, Moncure D. Conway, Wm. Henry Channing,
Mrs. Rose, Stopford Brooke; speech at Prince's Hall; Helen Taylor,
Jane Cobden and others; speech at St. James Hall; Mrs. Mellen's
Fourth of July reception; Canon Wilberforce, Sarah Bernhardt;
Edinburgh; Elizabeth Pease Nichol, Priscilla Bright McLaren,
Professor Blackie, Dr. Jex-Blake; home of Harriet Martineau;
Dublin; Isabella M. S. Tod and others; trip through Ireland;
characteristic descriptions; John Bright, Hannah Ford, home of the
Brontës; Henrietta Müller, Margaret Bright Lucas, Frances Power
Cobbe, Millicent Garrett Fawcett, Mrs. Peter Taylor; home again.
Congressional Hearings—Visit to New Orleans. (1884-1885.)581-6032
Welcome Home from Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, N. Y. Evening
Telegram, Cleveland Leader; unkind comment Cincinnati Times-Star;
dislike of interviewing Congressmen shown by letter to Wm. D.
Kelley; Warren Keifer in favor of Woman Suffrage; opposition of
Reagan, of Texas; members for and against Special Committee;
Douglass marriage; letters to young workers; death of Wendell
Phillips; Bishop Simpson on Woman Suffrage; fine speech before
Congressional Committee; Thomas B. Reed's report; letter from
Senator Palmer; Miss Anthony on Suffrage Bill in Parliament;
attitude of Presidential candidates; opposes resolution denouncing
dogmas and creeds; attack of Rev. W. W. Patton; Senator Palmer's
speech; trip to New Orleans; tribute of Picayune; Eddy legacy
received; working on History; Miss Anthony's dislike of literary
labor; Mrs. Stanton's seventieth birthday; letter from Harriet
Stanton Blatch.
Many Trips—First Vote on Sixteenth Amendment. (1886-1887.)605-626
Miss Anthony's persistence with members of Congress; Eighteenth
Washington Convention; committee reports; canvass of the State of
Kansas; Municipal Suffrage Bill passed by Legislature; speaking
throughout Wisconsin; advice as to Church for holding convention;
History of Woman Suffrage and valuable work accomplished by it;
opinions of Mary L. Booth, Sarah B. Cooper and others; Nineteenth
Annual Convention; Senator Blair's bill for Woman Suffrage;
Senators Brown and Vest in opposition; Senators Dolph and Blair in
favor; remonstrance from Boston; the Vote; women incensed at
Ingalls; letter to Frances Willard on Prohibition Party; letter to
Olympia Brown against bringing suit under school suffrage law;
scores Senator Ingalls in Kansas; canvass of Indiana.
Union of Associations—International Council. (1888.)627-645
American Association proposes Union; negotiations to that end; plea
for Mrs. Stanton's election as president; Union completed;
International Council of Women; magnitude of preparations; Miss
Anthony's idea of a sermon; letter of Douglass on First Woman's
Rights Convention; letter of Maria Mitchell; efforts to secure Mrs.
Stanton's presence; comment of Baltimore Sun and N. Y. World;
Frances Willard's speech and letter to Union Signal; National and
International Councils formed; at Central Music Hall, Chicago;
letter urging women to go to National Political conventions; open
letter to General Harrison; Republican "free ballot" plank does not
include Women; dislike of "red tape;" speech at Columbus W. C. T.
U. celebration not well received.
Conventions from Washington to South Dakota. (1889.)647-661
Twenty-first Washington Convention; address before Unity Club,
Cincinnati; death of niece Susie B.; letters on Death; newspaper
comment on Dress; at Seidl Club on Coney Island and "Broadbrim's"
account; a round of lectures and conventions; letter of Harriet
Hosmer; canvass of South Dakota; Miss Anthony outlines plan of
campaign; nephew D. R. describes speech at Ann Arbor; "Andrew
Jackson-like responsibility"; work for South Dakota; description in
Washington Star.
At the End of Seventy Years. (1890.)663-678
Consternation at idea of selling tickets for Birthday banquet;
description of banquet by Washington Star and N. Y. Sun; speeches
of Rev. F. W. Hinckley, Hon. J. A. Pickler, Mrs. Stanton and Miss
Anthony; congratulatory letters from distinguished people; eloquent
tributes from Boston Traveller and Rochester Democrat and
Chronicle; first Convention of United Associations; money for South
Dakota; in Washington society; letter on pre-natal influence.
The South Dakota Campaign. (1890.)679-696
Appeals from South Dakota; Miss Anthony lays down the law regarding
National funds; pledges of Farmers' Alliance leaders; contributions
to campaign; goes to South Dakota; Farmers' Alliance and Knights of
Labor form new party and repudiate pledges for Woman Suffrage;
insults at Democratic Convention; Republican Convention has room
for Indian men but none for white women; Miss Anthony's cheerful
letters; hardships of campaign; Mrs. Howell's description of
meetings at Madison; Rev. Anna Shaw's account of crying babies and
drunken man; Mrs. Chapman Catt's summing-up of situation;
statistics of Defeat; Miss Anthony endorsed by State W. C. T. U.
and Suffrage Associations.
Wyoming—Miss Anthony Goes to Housekeeping. (1890-1891.)697-716
Debate in Congress on admission of Wyoming; first majority report
from House Committee in favor of Sixteenth Amendment; Wimodaughsis;
in Boston; letter of sympathy from Lucy Stone; first triennial
meeting of National Woman's Council; Miss Anthony's joy;
Twenty-third Washington Convention; breakfast at Sorosis; letter
from ex-Secretary Hugh McCulloch; leaving Riggs House; letter
describing visits in New England; goes to housekeeping; kindness of
press and people; letter from Adirondacks and John Brown's home;
stirs up Rochester W. C. T. U.; at Chautauqua; describes meeting at
Lily Dale; happiness in keeping house; speaks at N. Y. State Fair;
invites Mrs. Stanton to share her home; calls meeting to admit
girls to Rochester University; speaks at Thanksgiving services in
Unitarian church; appeals from Kansas.
Ignored by the Parties—Appointed to Office. (1892.)717-735
Mrs. Stanton's last appearance at National Convention; Miss Anthony
made president; home life; attends biennial meeting Federation of
Woman's Clubs; bust made by Lorado Taft; letter approving Southern
Woman's Council; ignored by Republican National Convention at
Minneapolis; "every citizen" does not include Women; bowed out of
Democratic National Convention at Chicago; Frances Willard's
beautiful tribute; at People's National Convention in Omaha; Woman
Suffrage at Chautauqua; campaign of Kansas on Republican platform;
illustrates difference in treatment of same women now and forty
years ago; appointed on Board of Managers State Industrial School;
press comment; addresses mass meeting on including Women in
provisions of New Charter for Rochester; face sculptured on theater
in Dowagiac, Mich.; John Boyd Thacher asks his father's record;
Philip Schuyler objects to his stepmother's statue in company with
Miss Anthony's; Justice Rufus W. Peckham's tribute.
World's Fair—Congress of Representative Women. (1893.)737-754
Miss Anthony opposes holding National Conventions outside
Washington; extended range of letters and invitations; urges those
who can not work to contribute money; opening of World's Fair;
Bertha Honoré Palmer's words for women; Miss Anthony behind
movement to have women on Board of Managers; President and Board of
Lady Managers; Woman's Congress; Miss Anthony center of attraction;
compliments from Frances Willard and Lady Somerset; letter of
Florence Fenwick Miller; Suffrage leads at Congress; letters from
Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. James P. Eagle; speech on Religious Press;
pleasant visits in Chicago; tribute from Inter-Ocean; Woman
Suffrage granted in Colorado; preparing for New York and Kansas
amendment campaigns.
The Second New York Campaign. (1894.)755-776
Speeches in Ann Arbor, Toledo, Baltimore and Washington; no creeds,
no politics in National-American Association; congratulations of
Chicago Journal; great New York campaign inaugurated to secure
Amendment from Constitutional Convention; headquarters in Anthony
home; Corresponding Secretary Mary S. Anthony reports amount of
work done; opening rally in Rochester; women of wealth and fashion
in New York and Brooklyn take part; N. Y. World describes the
movement; "Remonstrants" organize; Miss Anthony's opinion of them;
600,000 signatures secured; Joseph H. Choate, President of
Constitutional Convention, uses his influence against Woman
Suffrage Amendment; Miss Anthony and many other women address
delegates; representatives of the "Antis" speak in opposition;
Edward Lauterbach and other members support Amendment; Elihu Root,
Wm. P. Goodelle and others oppose; Amendment Defeated; tribute by
State president, Mrs. Greenleaf; appreciative letters; incorrect
report of speech at Spiritualist camp meeting; Miss Anthony,
Frances Willard, Lady Somerset and others at Republican State
Convention in Saratoga; starting for Kansas.
The Second Kansas Campaign. (1894.)777-798
Miss Anthony insists that political State conventions must put
Woman Suffrage planks in their platforms; politicians try to
persuade Kansas women not to ask for them; dilemma of State
president, Mrs. Johns; letters of Mrs. Chapman Catt, Henry B.
Blackwell, Rev. Anna Shaw, showing uselessness of campaign without
Political endorsement; Miss Anthony's rousing letters to Woman's
State Committee, Republican leaders and Mrs. Johns; great speech at
Kansas City; action taken by Republican Woman's Convention;
Suffrage plank refused by Republican State Convention; fight for it
in Populist Convention; wild scene when secured; "not a test of
party fealty;" Prohibitionists adopt plank; Miss Anthony and Miss
Shaw censured by Republicans; Miss Anthony states their reasons and
takes a cheerful view; friendly words from Wm. Lloyd Garrison; her
brave declaration; scores Kansas Republicans in letter to Mr.
Blackwell; cordial support of Annie L. Diggs; Mrs. Johns and Mr.
Breidenthal hopeful; Amendment Defeated; possession of Limited
Suffrage a hindrance to securing Full Suffrage.
The Southern Trip—The Atlanta Convention. (1895.)799-817
Not cast down by Kansas defeat, Miss Anthony speaks at Nebraska
Convention; goes to New York State Convention at Ithaca; visits
Cornell University and speaks to girls of Sage College; addresses
National W. C. T. U. on Sunday at Cleveland, showing weakness of
all attempts at Reform unsupported by the Ballot; pleasant month in
New York City; letter on Y. M. C. A. for "woman's edition;"
invitation from Rev. Jenkin Lloyd Jones and Rev. H. W. Thomas to
take part in Liberal Religious Congress; addresses at Lexington,
Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans; complimentary reports of
Picayune, Shreveport Times, Birmingham News, Huntsville Tribune;
National-American Convention in Atlanta; courtesy of press, pulpit
and people; Seventy-fifth Birthday celebration and presentation of
Annuity of $800; second triennial of Woman's Council; speaks at
Douglass' funeral; stirs up the audience in Rochester at Ida B.
Wells' lecture on Lynching; resigns position on State Industrial
School Board.
The Second Visit to California. (1895.)819-838
Invitation from California Woman's Congress; Miss Anthony and Miss
Shaw have royal welcome at St. Louis, Denver, Cheyenne, Salt Lake
City, Reno; cordial reception at Oakland; beautiful scene at
Woman's Congress; eulogies of press; visit Stanford University;
entertained by many clubs and societies; go to Yosemite Valley;
joyfully received at San Jose, Los Angeles, Riverside, Pasadena,
Pomona, San Diego, Santa Monica; address Ministers' Meeting in San
Francisco; Mrs. Cooper's victory over Fourth of July Committee;
speak at the celebration; miss audience at Oakland; affectionate
farewell.
Mrs. Stanton's Birthday—The Bible Resolution. (1895-1896.)839-862
Miss Anthony stirs up papers with resolution on Kansas men;
description by Chicago Herald; seized with nervous prostration at
Lakeside, O.; sympathy of people and press; secret of vitality;
letter on maternity hospitals; on "hard times;" on woman's dress;
Mrs. Stanton's birthday celebration; Miss Anthony magnanimously
refuses to take the lead; tribute from Tilton; appreciative letters
from Mary Lowe Dickinson, Mrs. Leland Stanford; Twenty-eighth
Annual Convention; Utah admitted with Woman Suffrage; women of
South Australia enfranchised; resolution against Woman's Bible;
speech on Religious Liberty; grief over action of convention; view
of the Bible; Suffrage will emancipate from Superstition; Nelly
Bly's racy interview; loud call from California; can not refuse but
goes to the Golden State.
The California Campaign. (1896.)863-893
Effort to secure Woman Suffrage Bill from California Legislature;
State committees formed; county conventions; Mrs. Sargent's
hospitality; work of women throughout the State; attitude of press;
the Call declares for Woman Suffrage; Republican Convention; Miss
Anthony and Miss Shaw before platform committee; tributes to Mrs.
Duniway and Mrs. McCann; Populist Convention; Prohibition
Convention; Democratic Convention; women's ratification;
headquarters opened; principal speakers; great work of Miss
Anthony; social courtesies extended; goes to Portland and Seattle;
can not go to Idaho; Suffrage plank in National Republican
convention repudiated; tour of Southern California; letters to Miss
Willard and Mrs. Peet on holding National W. C. T. U. Convention in
California; action of Chairman Republican State Committee;
attempts of Women to speak at Political conventions; the Call
coerced; the orators "flunk;" Liquor Dealers fight Woman Suffrage;
efforts to register new voters; amount of money raised; Women
outwitted by State officials; Defeat; summing-up of vote; a
touching sight; pleasant campaign; State Suffrage Convention; Mrs.
Sargent's tribute; homeward bound.
Her Letters—Birthday Party—Biography. (1896-1897.)895-911
Reception in Rochester; never denies charges; urges women not to
"scramble" for office; Book of Proverbs; constancy of purpose;
women have nothing to do with Reform parties; objects to calling
God the author of Civil Government; men trying to lift themselves
by their bootstraps; no time for Speculation; opposes Educated and
Property Suffrage; eloquent tribute of Dr. H. W. Thomas; pleasant
letters from Mrs. Henrotin, John Hutchinson, Mrs. Dickinson;
National-American Convention in Des Moines; letter urging that all
National conventions be held at Washington; reception at
Indianapolis; addresses Indiana Legislature; kindness to reporters;
birthday of Frederick Douglass; Miss Anthony's great Birthday
reception in Rochester; compliments of Post-Express and Herald; the
day at Anthony home; Mrs. Chapman Catt's tribute; speech at Cuban
League; remarks at funeral of Mrs. Humphrey; beginning the
Biography; immense amount of material; description of attic
workroom.
Characteristic Views on Many Questions. (1897.)913-930
Monday evenings at home; Miss Anthony dislikes rôle of Literary or
Society woman; declares she never again will speak before
Legislative Committee at Albany; Miss Mary Anthony's birthday;
Herald's interview; description by Democrat and Chronicle; remarks
of Rev. W. C. Gannett and others; assists at golden wedding; visits
Eliza Wright Osborne with Mrs. Stanton; her greatest compliment;
opinion on Women rising in Rebellion; on Mrs. Besant and Theosophy;
letter to Supreme Court of Idaho; on commemorating deeds of
Revolutionary Mothers; Sentiment no guarantee for Justice;
Subjection of Woman the cause of public Immorality; opposed to
asking Partial Suffrage for women; opinion on Poetry; God not
responsible for human ills; Sunday observance; objects to asking
for Educated and Property Suffrage; voters not influenced by
Religious arguments; refuses to join Miss Willard in attack on
"yellow journalism" and prize fighting; wide scope of invitations,
etc.; amusing letter of inquiry; never received salary from
National Association; visit to Thousand Islands; centennial of
Rev. Samuel J. May; at Nashville Exposition; criticises Women for
going into Partisan Politics and defends "rings;" Woman Suffrage
movement of the Present contrasted with that of the Past.
Home Life—The Reunion—The Woman. (1897.)931-953
Daily habits of life; dress; harmonious relations of the two
sisters; description of Anthony home; outline of Miss Anthony's
vast private correspondence; her patience and conscientiousness;
objects to which close of life is being given; invited to
Berkshire; Suffrage Committee meeting in the "Old Hive" at Adams;
guest of Berkshire Historical Society; addresses of Mrs. Chapman
Catt, Mrs. Foster Avery, Mrs. Sewall, Mrs. Colby, Rev. Anna Shaw
and others; Anthony Reunion; picturesque old homestead; visit to
birthplace and loved spots of childhood; contrast in position of
Woman now and fifty years ago; Miss Anthony's part in securing
reforms; face carved in Capitol at Albany; tributes of Mrs. Sewall,
Miss Willard and Mrs. Stanton; Miss Anthony's characteristics;
compared to Napoleon, Gladstone, Lincoln, Garrison; finis.
Vol. II.
| Susan B. Anthony in California Campaign, 1896 | Frontispiece |
| Harriet Purvis | faces page 526 |
| Mentia Taylor | 554 |
| Priscilla Bright McLaren | 564 |
| Elizabeth Pease Nichol | 568 |
| Margaret Bright Lucas | 578 |
| Miss Anthony and Mrs. Stanton writing the History of Woman Suffrage | 600 |
| Caroline E. Merrick | 608 |
| Zerelda G. Wallace | 632 |
| Rev. Anna Howard Shaw | 688 |
| Harriet Taylor Upton | 700 |
| May Wright Sewall | 746 |
| Mary S. Anthony | 760 |
| Carrie Chapman Catt | 780 |
| Rachel Foster Avery | 814 |
| Sarah B. Cooper | 828 |
| Ellen Clark Sargent | 864 |
| Sarah L. Knox Goodrich | 888 |
| Anthony Residence in Rochester | 904 |
| Attic Work-Rooms | 910 |
| Mary S. and Susan B. Anthony | 916 |
| Anthony Family at Reunion | 938 |
| At the Old Homestead | 942 |
| Quaker Meeting-House, Adams, Mass | 946 |
During her May lecture trip Miss Anthony was formulating a scheme for a series of conventions, opening and closing with a great mass meeting, which should influence the national political conventions to recognize in their platforms the rights of woman. As usual most of the women opposed this plan and as usual Miss Anthony carried the day. The following letters to Mrs. Spencer, national secretary, will serve as specimens of hundreds which she wrote with her own hand, before every similar occasion:
I want the rousingest rallying cry ever put on paper—first, to call women by the thousand to Chicago; and second, to get every one who can not go there to send a postal card to the mass convention, saying she wants the Republicans to put a Sixteenth Amendment pledge in their platform. Don't you see that if we could have a mass meeting of 2,000 or 3,000 earnest women, June 2, and then receive 10,000 postals from women all over the country, what a tremendous influence we could bring to bear on the Republican convention, June 3? We can get Farwell Hall for $40 a day, and I think would do well to engage it for the 2d and 3d, then we could make it our headquarters—sleep in it even, if we couldn't get any other places.
Besides this, I want to make the best possible use of all our speakers between June 3 and 21, when we shall have a mass meeting in Cincinnati, the day before the Democratic convention. My proposition is that I, as vice-president-at-large, call conventions of two days each at a number of cities. We could divide our speakers and thus fill in the entire two weeks between Chicago and Cincinnati with capital good work. How does the plan strike you? Can we summon the women from the vasty deeps—or distances? Can we get 5,000 or 10,000 to send on their postals? Do the petitions still come in? How many thousands of appeals and documents have you had printed and how many have you sent out?
After the ball was set rolling she wrote:
A letter from Mrs. Stanton tells of her being on the verge of pneumonia, and rushing home to rest and recruit. She is better and, since she has been to the dinner-table, I infer she is well enough to begin to work up the thunder and lightning for Indianapolis and Chicago. Now won't you at once scratch down the points with which you want to fire her soul and brain, and get her at work on the resolutions, platform and address? She won't go out to lecture any more this spring, and if you will only put her en rapport with your thought she will do splendid work in the herculean task awaiting us.
It is simply impossible for me to go to her at present, and we must all give her our ideas in the rough, from time to time, and let her weld them together as best she can; and then, as she says, when we meet in Indianapolis we all will put in our happiest ideas, metaphysical, political, logical and all other "cals," and make these the strongest and grandest documents ever issued from any organization of women. It does seem to me that if we can succeed in grinding out just the right appeal, demand, or whatever it may be called, the Republican convention must heed us. At any rate, we will do our level best at a strong pull, a long pull and a pull all together to compel them to surrender.
I enclose my list of May lecture engagements. I shall be able to help in money from them soon, and better than I could in any other way. I watch both Congress and our State legislatures, but the "scamps" are vastly better at promising than fulfilling. The politicians, of course, expect all this flutter and buncombe about doing something for women in New York—in California—in Iowa—is going to spike our guns and make us help the Republican party to carry all before it; but we must not be thus fooled by them.
After a lecture at Waynesburg, Penn., when she had gone to her train at 4 a. m. to find it an hour late, she wrote on the ticket-office shelf, by the light of a smoky lamp, this letter to her sister:
Just three years ago this day was our dear Hannah's last on earth, and I can see her now sitting by the window and can hear her say, "Talk, Susan." I knew she wanted me to talk of the future meetings in the great beyond, all of them, as she often said, so certain and so beautiful to her; but they were not to me, and I could not dash her faith with my doubts, nor could I pretend a faith I had not; so I was silent in the dread presence of death. Three years—and yet what a living presence has she been in my thoughts all the days! There has been scarcely one waking hour that I have not felt the loss of her. We can not help trying to peer through the veil to find the certainty of things over there, but nothing comes to our eyes unless we accept the Spiritualistic testimony, which we can not wholly do.
Well, only you and I are left of mother's four girls, and when and how we also shall pass on is among the unknown problems of the future. Of course I feel and know that your loss is far beyond mine; for never was there a child who so faithfully devoted herself to a mother, and made all other interests subserve that mother's happiness as did you, and I feel, too, that but for you I never could have done my public work.
The great series of conventions began with the May Anniversary, which was held at Indianapolis, the 25th and 26th, in the Park Theater, Miss Anthony presiding. All arrangements had been made and all expenses assumed by the local suffrage society under the leadership of Mrs. Sewall. The Sentinel, edited at that time by Colonel J. B. Maynard, welcomed the convention in a strong editorial declaring for woman suffrage in unmistakable terms. The very successful meetings closed with a handsome reception tendered by Mrs. John C. New.
The mass meeting opened in Farwell Hall, Chicago, June 1, the day before the Republican convention, with delegates from twenty-six States, and continued in session three days. The welcoming address was made by Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, the speakers comprised the most prominent women of the nation, the audience numbered 3,000 and the enthusiasm was unprecedented in all the records of this movement.[1] The History of Woman Suffrage says:
The mass convention had been called for June 2, but the crowds in the city gave promise of such extended interest that Farwell Hall was engaged for June 1, and before the second day's proceedings closed, funds were voluntarily raised by the audience to continue the meeting the third day. So vast was the number of letters and postals from women who desired to vote, that the whole time of each session could have been spent in reading them—one day's mail alone bringing them from twenty-three States and three Territories. Some contained hundreds of names, others represented town, county and State societies. Many were addressed to the different nominating conventions, Republican, Greenback, Democratic, while the reasons given for desiring to vote ranged from the simple demand, through all the scale of those connected with good government and morality. So highly important a contribution to history did the Chicago Historical Society deem these expressions that it made a formal request to be put in possession of all letters and postals, with a promise that they should be carefully guarded in a fire-proof safe.
A large parlor in the Palmer House was tendered to the ladies by the proprietor for business meetings and for a reception room. They were visited by a number of Republican delegates, many of whom were thoroughly in favor of a suffrage plank in the platform and of giving the ladies seats in the convention. A letter was sent to the chairman of the Republican national committee, Don Cameron, signed by one hundred and eighteen United States senators and representatives, asking that seventy-six seats on the floor of the convention be given to as many accredited delegates from the National Suffrage Association. Although the veteran soldiers and sailors were liberally provided for, Mr. Cameron granted only ten seats to the women, and those not to the association in its official capacity but as "guest" tickets for seats on the platform. Miss Anthony was allowed ten minutes before a sub-committee to present the argument for a suffrage plank. It was favorably regarded by scattered members of various delegations, but the platform was silent on the subject.
The Republican convention of 1880 did not even adopt the "recognition" planks of 1872 and 1876, and all the demonstrations of this great mass meeting of women had not the slightest influence, because made by a disfranchised class. Before closing they adopted a resolution that they would support no party which did not endorse the political equality of woman; but all the "support" which they could give or withhold was not likely to be considered of much value by political leaders.
Miss Anthony and four others attended the Greenback-Labor Convention, a few days later, in the same city. They were well received. Mrs. Gage read the suffrage memorial in open session and Miss Anthony was permitted to address the convention. This privilege was violently opposed by Dennis Kearney, who said that "his wife instructed him before he left California not to mix up with woman suffragists, and if he did she would meet him at the door with a flat-iron when he came home." Failing to frighten the convention with Mrs. Kearney's flat-iron, he declined to hear Miss Anthony's speech and left the hall in disgust. The committee refused to incorporate a suffrage plank in its platform, but the next day in convention, after the nominations were concluded, a delegate introduced an equal suffrage resolution which passed by a large majority.
The delegates and speakers of the National Association then held meetings at Milwaukee, Wis., Bloomington, Ill., Grand Rapids, Mich., Lafayette and Terre Haute, Ind., and reached Cincinnati in time for the Democratic National Convention, June 22. They were received here with unexpected courtesy. Mayor Prince, of Boston, and Mr. Eaton, of Kansas, presented their request for seats, and sixteen were granted them on the floor of the house, just behind the delegates. A committee room was placed at their disposal and their notices and placards were printed by the convention. A hearing was given before the platform committee, with no limit as to time, and after several had spoken the others were invited to do so. The chairman, Henry Watterson, declared himself in favor of the plank desired. The delegations from Maine, New York and Kansas also were favorable. Miss Anthony was escorted to the platform upon the arm of Carter Harrison, amid wild applause, given a seat beside the presiding officer, Wade Hampton, and the clerk was ordered to read the address which she presented.[2] After all this parade, however, the platform contained not the slightest reference to the claims of women or, in fact, to their existence. The results of the appeal to the Republican and Democratic conventions were precisely the same, except that the latter administered the dose with chivalry.
The National Prohibition Convention at Bloomington, Ill., officially invited the suffrage advocates to meet with them and participate in their proceedings. Phœbe Couzins was sent as a delegate, and the convention adopted the following plank: "We also demand that women having privileges as citizens in other respects, shall be clothed with the ballot for their own protection, and as a rightful means for the proper settlement of the liquor question." This body, it will be noticed, not only demanded the ballot for woman but told her what she would be expected to do with it.
While not at all surprised, Miss Anthony was greatly disgusted with the action of the Republican and Democratic conventions, but, determined to leave nothing undone, she soon afterwards called upon General Garfield at Mentor. He was cordial and expressed himself in favor of equality for woman in matters of education, work, wages and civil rights, but was not ready to declare himself in favor of the suffrage and, as was always the case, urged that the issue be not pressed during that campaign. Mrs. Blake and others visited General Hancock, the Democratic candidate, and the New York Sun reports the interview in part:
Mrs. Blake said the delegation had come to ask the general what hope the woman suffrage party might entertain in case any measure came before him, as President, which bore upon granting women the ballot. The general replied that the movement was a growing one, and that everything which tended toward the amelioration of woman's condition had his sympathy. In the course of conversation he said that women should be paid equally with men for the same work equally well performed.
Mrs. Slocum said that the delegation desired a decided expression from him as to whether he would or would not veto any measure favorable to woman suffrage that might come before him as President. The general replied that if such a measure were voted upon by Congress as a constitutional amendment, it would not come before the President. If, however, Congress accorded women the right to vote in the District of Columbia, he certainly would offer no obstruction.
Mrs. Blake asked if he considered women as "people."
"Undoubtedly," replied the general. "He would be a bold man who would undertake to say they were not."
"Then, general," said Mrs. Blake, "we ask nothing more than what you say in your letter of acceptance: 'It is only by a full vote, a free ballot and a fair count that the people can rule in fact, as required by the theory of our government.'"
"I am perfectly willing," said General Hancock, "that you should say I take my stand on that paragraph in my letter of acceptance."
In order to exhaust every resource, Miss Anthony, on August 17, addressed this letter to each of the presidential candidates:
As vice-president-at-large of the National Woman Suffrage Association, I am instructed to ask you if, in the event of your election, you, as President of the United States, would recommend to Congress the submission to the several legislatures of a Sixteenth Amendment to the National Constitution, prohibiting the disfranchisement of United States citizens on account of sex. What we wish to ascertain is whether you, as President, would use your official influence to secure to the women of the several States a national guarantee of their right to a voice in the government on the same terms with men. Neither platform makes any pledge to secure political equality to women—hence we are waiting and hoping that one candidate or the other, or both, will declare favorably, and thereby make it possible for women, with self-respect, to work for the success of one or the other or both nominees. Hoping for a prompt and explicit statement, I am, sir, very respectfully yours.
General Hancock did not so much as acknowledge the receipt of this, but General Garfield answered promptly, writing with his own hand:
Your letter of the 17th inst. was duly received. I take the liberty of asking your personal advice before I answer your official letter. I assume that all the traditions and impulses of your life lead you to believe that the Republican party has been and is more nearly in the line of liberty than its antagonist, the Democratic party; and I know you desire to advance the cause of woman. Now, in view of the fact that the Republican convention has not discussed your question, do you not think it would be a violation of the trust they have reposed in me, to speak "as their nominee"—and add to the present contest an issue which they have not authorized?
Again, if I answer your question on the ground of my own private opinion, I shall be compelled to say that, while I am open to the freest discussion and fairest consideration of your question, I have not yet reached the conclusion that it would be best for woman and for the country that she should have the suffrage. I may reach it; but whatever time may do to me, that fruit is not yet ripe on my tree. I ask you, therefore, for the sake of your own question, do you think it wise to pick my apples now? Please answer me in the frankness of personal friendship.
With kind regards, I am, very truly yours.