The History of Woman Suffrage Volume IV Part 147

from the original ma.n.u.scripts in the Department of State, has reached its fourth and last volume. For the sick and wounded in the Spanish-American War the society raised about $6,600, with a contribution of hundreds of garments and hospital appliances, and several of its members worked in hospitals and camps.

The society also has its valued social side. It has five chapters in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Paris (France), with about 400 members.

THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF UNITED STATES DAUGHTERS OF 1812 was organized Jan. 8, 1892. Its object is to publish memoirs of famous women of the United States, especially those of the period included in the eligibility of this society; to urge the Government, through an act of Congress, to compile and publish authentic records of men in military and naval service in the war of 1812, and of those in civil service during the period embraced by this society; to secure and preserve doc.u.ments of the events for which each State was famous during this period; to promote the erection of a home where the descendants of the brave patriots of this war can be sheltered from the storms of life.

The work done in the various States is as follows: Two tablets, one marking New York City defenses during the war and one for "those who served," in the Post Chapel at West Point; Michigan, a monument to General McComb in the heart of Detroit; Maryland, the restoration of Fort McHenry (the inspiration of The Star Spangled Banner); Louisiana, a monument on the field of Cholnette. Ma.s.sachusetts has received permission to restore the frigate Const.i.tution and is raising $400,000 for this purpose; Pennsylvania is offering prizes in the public schools for historical work, and many other enterprises are under way.

It has nineteen State societies with a membership of 776.

THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY were organized Sept. 10, 1894.

The objects of the society are educational, memorial, literary and benevolent; to collect and preserve material for a truthful history of the War between the States; to honor the memory of those who fought and those who fell in the service of the Confederacy; to cherish the ties of friendship among the members of the society and to fulfil the duties of sacred charity to the survivors of the war and those dependent upon them. Much aid has been given to aged and indigent Confederate soldiers. There are homes for these soldiers in every Southern State and monuments have been erected to the Confederate dead in nearly every city. The orphans of Confederate soldiers have been educated and cared for, and in a number of States the society has seen that correct and impartial histories are used in the public schools.

It has 500 branches and about 25,000 members.

LODGES:

THE SUPREME HIVE LADIES OF THE MACCABEES OF THE WORLD was organized Oct. 1, 1892, to extend the benefits of life protection to women; to unite fraternally the wives, mothers, daughters and sisters of the Knights of the Maccabees, as well as other women who are acceptable; to educate its members socially, morally and intellectually. Four hundred and twenty-five death claims were paid in 1900, amounting to $441,380; and twenty-two disability claims, amounting to $2,400. The total amount paid in claims from organization to Jan. 1, 1901, is $1,523,504.

The organization is composed of one supreme body, three subordinate bodies, known as Great Hives, and 1,835 subordinate or local hives, with a membership of 84,657, of whom 19,321 are social and 65,336 benefit members.

THE SUPREME TEMPLE RATHBONE SISTERS OF THE WORLD was organized Oct.

23, 1888, for promoting the moral, mental and social conditions of its members; cultivating a spirit of fraternal love which shall permeate and control their daily lives; ministering in all ways to the wants of the sick and needy; watching at the bedside of the dying; paying the last sad tribute of love and respect to the dead, comforting and providing for the widow in her afflictions, and daily exemplifying in every possible way the Golden Rule.

The Supreme Temple has general supervision of the Order throughout the world and makes the general laws. The Grand Temples, or State organizations, supervise the local Temples within their domain. The latter, besides carrying out the principles peculiar to a fraternal society, select some special work for the good of those outside their ranks. Reading rooms have been established, funds donated for public improvements, charity, etc. In order to care for the orphans of Rathbone Sisters a Home is soon to be erected, the fund being already set aside for this purpose. The local Temples care for their own poor and sick. In such disasters as those at Galveston and Jacksonville, the Temples send liberal donations to their members to relieve their financial losses.

The Supreme Temple is composed of twenty-four State organizations and 1,124 local Temples, with a membership of 71,247. Four insurance branches have just been established (1900).

THE ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR was organized in the latter part of the eighteenth century--the exact date is not known. Its founders sought to create a social tie between the families of Masons, but it early reached a higher standard of usefulness. Among its objects are caring for the widow and orphan and a.s.sisting the Masonic brother in all deeds of mercy and love. It has founded Eastern Star Homes for widows and orphans of Masons and has become a mighty impetus in the building and support of Masonic Homes. Everywhere its members visit the sick, relieve the distressed and speak words of cheer to the despairing. It has been found helpful all over the land in carrying forward the underlying principles of Masonry. It has taught woman to preside in public meetings and to make herself conversant in parliamentary law.

Masonry unites the heads of families, whereas the Eastern Star unites the entire families. Its ritualistic teachings are designed to inculcate morals and to improve the social virtues. The Order comprises 3,491 chapters with a membership of 218,238.

THE DAUGHTERS OF REBEKAH were organized in 1851 as a side degree of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and chartered lodges were authorized in 1868. The object is benevolent work. The order stands very high among charitable organizations and pays out thousands of dollars each year for the relief of widows and orphans. The report for the present year shows that 6,212 families were a.s.sisted at an expense of $141,646; and $50,540 were paid for the education of orphans. The Indiana lodge erected a monument in Indianapolis to Vice-President of the United States Schuyler Colfax, the princ.i.p.al founder of the order.

The Daughters of Rebekah usually exist wherever there is a lodge of the I. O. O. F. Men may take the degree but the affairs of the lodges are entirely in the hands of women. There are 125,300 men and 200,850 women members.

THE GRAND INTERNATIONAL AUXILIARY TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND MEXICO, was organized Oct.

16, 1887, to elevate the social standing of railroad people, to promote a fraternal feeling between families of engineers and to render a.s.sistance in time of trouble. The Voluntary Relief a.s.sociation, formed in 1890, has paid to needy families of engineers over $100,000. It has no home for dependents, but helps widows to keep a home and care for their own children. It secures homes for orphans and a.s.sists in their education out of a special standing fund. There are $15,000 in the general fund. The order is exclusively composed of women, who manufacture all supplies and from this source realize a considerable revenue. Study clubs for intellectual culture are maintained in the various branches.

There are 255 subdivisions and about 10,000 members. It was founded by Mrs. W. A. Murdock, who has served continuously as president.

THE LADIES' AUXILIARY TO THE ORDER OF RAILROAD CONDUCTORS OF AMERICA was organized in 1888. The idea originally was merely social, but so many objects claimed a.s.sistance that, in 1895, the Fraternal Beneficiary a.s.sociation was added to help the widows and children of railway conductors. a.s.sessments were levied and in five years $2,200 had been thus applied. Good speakers, parliamentarians and business women have been developed and its members have become broader and more enlightened in every direction. There are 156 local divisions, with a membership of about 4,000.

MISCELLANEOUS: Various organizations are in existence which are national in their aims and interests but scarcely have reached national proportions in the number of auxiliaries and membership.

Among these may be mentioned the SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA, organized in New York in 1883, to disseminate the principles of Social and Industrial Co-operation; the NATIONAL WOMEN'S REPUBLICAN a.s.sOCIATION, founded in 1888; the PRO RE NATA, started in Washington in 1889, to perfect its members in the art of extemporaneous speaking; WIMODAUGHSIS, organized in Washington in 1890 for the improvement of women along all educational lines; the a.s.sOCIATION OPPOSED TO THE FURTHER EXTENSION OF SUFFRAGE TO WOMEN; the NATIONAL FLORAL EMBLEM SOCIETY, formed at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893, to gain an expression from the people which shall lead to the adoption of a national flower and also the selection of State flowers, which have been chosen in nineteen States and the choice ratified by the Legislature; the NATIONAL SOCIETY OF NEW ENGLAND WOMEN, founded in New York in 1895, to promote acquaintance among New England women in various localities throughout the country for purposes of mutual helpfulness; the NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN, started in Washington City in 1896, to band together women journalists, authors and ill.u.s.trators; the WOMEN'S PRESS a.s.sOCIATION, organized earlier and with branches in various States; the GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL a.s.sOCIATION, incorporated in 1898, to raise $250,000 toward an Administration Building to be a part of the university as set forth in the will of George Washington--$25,000 of this amount being now on hand and as much more guaranteed; the WOMAN'S LEAGUE OF THE GEORGE JUNIOR REPUBLIC, formed in 1899 to promote interest in the National Republic and establish branches; the NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE LEAGUE, founded in 1900 to obtain for women equality of legal, munic.i.p.al and industrial rights through action by the National Congress and the State Legislatures; WOMAN'S EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL UNION; various a.s.sociations for improving cities and villages by means of parks, shade trees, good streets, sanitary appliances, etc.; and countless others of a social, educational or philanthropic nature.

There are also a number of large national organizations composed of both men and women, with the latter very greatly predominating. Of these the most prominent are the UNIVERSAL PEACE UNION, founded in 1866 and chartered in 1888, with forty branches in the United States and sixty in Europe; the SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; the NATIONAL CONSUMERS' LEAGUE; the CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY; the EPWORTH LEAGUE; the YOUNG PEOPLE'S UNION; the KING'S DAUGHTERS AND SONS; the ANTI-VIVISECTION SOCIETY.

The above list shows that women are organized for carrying forward practically every department of the world's work, and that their a.s.sociations have been steadily increasing in number, size and scope during the past half century. In the early years the Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation not only stood alone in its advocacy of enfranchis.e.m.e.nt but was regarded with the most strenuous disapproval by all other organizations of women. In 1881, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, princ.i.p.ally through the influence of its president, Miss Frances E. Willard, established a department of franchise, but it was many years afterwards before the idea of the ballot was received with favor by any large number of its members. The sentiment is not now unanimous, but considered as a body there are no more active workers for woman suffrage. The National Council of Women has no platform, but its leaders and also those of the International Council are prominent advocates of the franchise. These are now found in greater or less numbers in all the organizations but not one of them includes the suffrage among the specific objects for which it works. As these broaden the a.s.sociations frequently find it necessary to appeal to Legislative bodies, and the result is usually a significant lesson in the disadvantage of being without political influence. The Federation of Clubs, organized in 1890, in its endeavor to secure the pa.s.sage of bills for various purposes, has applied to more Legislatures, during the past few years, than has the Suffrage a.s.sociation. It is indeed a most interesting study to watch the evolution of the so-called women's clubs. Formed at first merely for a superficial literary culture, they widened by degrees into a study of practical matters related to law and economics. From these it was but a step into civics, where they are to-day, struggling to improve munic.i.p.al, and indirectly national conditions and gradually having revealed to them the narrow limitations of woman's power in public affairs.

With the exception possibly of the church missionary societies and the various lodges, there is not one of these a.s.sociations of women which does not depend in a greater or less measure on City Councils, State Legislatures or the National Congress for a.s.sistance in securing its objects. No other means could be so effective in convincing women that politics, which they have heretofore believed did not directly concern them, in reality touches them at every point. They are learning that the mere personal influence which usually was sufficient to gain their ends in the household, society and the church--the three spheres of action to which they were confined in the past--must be supplemented by political influence now that they have entered the field of public work. Women have been so long flattered by the power which they have possessed over men in social life that they are surprised and bewildered to discover that this is wholly ineffectual when brought to bear upon men in legislative a.s.semblies. They find that it is not sufficient to have personal attractions or family position--not even to be a good wife, mother and worker in church and charities--they must be also const.i.tuents. This is a new word which was not in the lexicon of woman in past generations. They investigate and they see that whatever may be the private opinion of these legislators, their public acts are governed by their const.i.tuents, and women alone of all cla.s.ses in the community are not const.i.tuents.

This knowledge could come to the average woman only through experience, and that which as an individual she might not get in ages she is gaining rapidly through organization. A summary of the preceding list shows about 2,000,000 women enrolled in the various a.s.sociations. The number which may be duplicated by a membership in several, is probably balanced by the number in those which do not state the membership. This list includes only national a.s.sociations and it is reasonable to a.s.sume that not more than one-half of the local societies are auxiliary to national bodies. This is known positively to be the case in the General Federation of Clubs, which includes less than half of those in the different States. It would be a decided underestimate to say that 4,000,000 women in the United States are members of one or more organizations, and it is clearly evident that this number is increasing. The scope of these a.s.sociations is constantly broadening as women themselves are emerging from their narrow environment and seeing the needs of the world in wider perspective. They are slowly but certainly learning to devote their time and energy to larger objects, and they are awakening to a perception, above all else, of the strength that lies in combination, a knowledge which was a sealed book to the isolated and undeveloped women of past generations. No other influence has been so powerful in enabling woman to discover herself and her possibilities.

There will be no more important element to be reckoned with during the coming years of the new century than these great a.s.sociations of women, constantly gaining strength and momentum, not alone by the increase of membership but also by its personnel, for now they are beginning to be composed of college graduates, of property owners, of women with business experience. More and more they are directing their attention to public questions, and when brains, wealth, executive ability, enthusiasm and a strong desire for an honest and moral government are thoroughly organized in the effort to obtain it, they must necessarily become a powerful factor in State and national affairs, and one which inevitably will refuse to be held in a disfranchised condition after it shall realize the supreme power which inheres in the suffrage.

There is still another and a more important point of view from which this subject should be studied. Here are more than 4,000,000 women, about one-third of all in the country, banded into active, working organizations. The figures given above show that they are raising and expending millions of dollars and every dollar for some worthy object.

The list demonstrates beyond question that every one of these great a.s.sociations exists for the purpose of improving the conditions of society and helping and bettering humanity. They represent the highest form of effort for education, morality, temperance, religion, justice, patriotism and co-operation. Are not these the very qualities most needed in our electorate? Is not the nation suffering because of the lack of them since it has placed the ballot in the hands of ignorance, immorality, intemperance and lawlessness? Does not an emergency exist for a political influence which shall counterbalance these and tip the scale the other way? Can the Government afford much longer to delay the summons for this great, well-organized, finely-equipped force--if it is to perfect and make permanent the inst.i.tutions of the republic?

FOOTNOTES:

[498] The National Suffrage a.s.sociation is not included in the list, as twenty-one chapters of this volume are devoted to its work. It was the intention to give the name of the president of each organization, but as this officer is so frequently changed it seemed best to abandon this plan save in special instances. The figures given are for 1900 with but few exceptions.

The church missionary societies not mentioned here, and some other national bodies, were appealed to several times for statistics without response. The list, however, includes all of any considerable size and importance. It did not seem that it would represent the true proportions of these a.s.sociations if arranged alphabetically or according to date of organization, therefore the editors have used their individual judgment in placing them.

APPENDIX

EMINENT ADVOCATES OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.

The following list is so incomplete as to make the advisability of using it a matter of grave doubt. No name is given except upon what is believed to be unimpeachable authority, but it is unavoidable that scores should be omitted which are ent.i.tled to a place. The list will indicate, however, the character of those who have espoused the cause of woman suffrage, and it is published with the request that readers will forward to the editors additional names which can be used, and mention any which should be omitted, in the second edition of this volume. There has been no attempt to give all in any profession, but only a few of those who may fairly be considered representative. The names, for instance, of clergymen alone who are in favor of the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women would fill many pages, while those of prominent lawyers in every community would require almost unlimited s.p.a.ce, as it is a question which appeals especially to the sense of equity. The following list will indicate sufficiently that this is not a movement of ultra-radical and irresponsible extremists.

The only President of the United States who declared himself publicly and unequivocally for woman suffrage was Abraham Lincoln, who said as early as 1836, "I go for all sharing the privileges of the Government who a.s.sist in bearing its burdens--by no means excluding women," and later utterances indicated that he did not change his position.

Rutherford B. Hayes never hesitated to express his approval in private conversation, and in 1872 he a.s.sisted materially in placing in the Republican National Platform the nearest approach to an indors.e.m.e.nt which the movement ever has received from that party. James A.

Garfield said: "Laugh as we may, put it aside as a jest if we will, keep it out of Congress and political campaigns, still the woman question is rising on our horizon larger than a man's hand; and some solution ere long that question must find." Theodore Roosevelt, when a member of the New York Legislature, voted for a woman suffrage bill, saying he had been converted by seeing how much the women accomplished with their school ballot at Oyster Bay, his home. When Governor he said in his message to the Legislature of 1899: "I call your attention to the desirability of gradually enlarging the sphere in which the suffrage can be extended to women." There is reason to believe other Presidents would have expressed themselves favorably had political exigencies permitted.

The only Vice-Presidents on record as advocating and voting for woman suffrage are Hannibal Hamlin, Schuyler Colfax, Henry Wilson and William A. Wheeler. Such action is likely to mean the personal loss of votes and injury to one's party, with no compensation other than the consciousness of having done right, as women can give no reward.

Under these conditions it is surprising that so large a number in the Congress and State Legislatures have sustained the measures for the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women.[499]

CHIEF JUSTICES OF THE U. S. SUPREME COURT.

Chase, Salmon P.

Wake, Morrison R.

Practically all of the State Supreme Court Justices of Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, where women have exercised the suffrage for a number of years, and of Kansas where they have had a munic.i.p.al vote for fifteen years, are strong advocates of woman suffrage.

UNITED STATES SENATORS.

Allen, John B. Wash.