"FORTY-ONE ARRESTED FOR OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC"

SUFFRAGISTS PROTESTING IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE ARRESTED BY CAPITOL POLICE...TWICE!

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the morning of November 12, 1917, a group of 41 suffragists protesting in front of the White House were arrested by Capitol Police for obstructing traffic.

The women were released from custody, however, after a judge took the case "under advisement."

27 of those arrested and released were soon back in front of the White House protesting.  They were, along with 4 others, were arrested and ordered to appear in court on November 14.

*suffragists were women (and men) who supported women's right to vote.  They participated in peaceful protests such as lobbying & marches as well as more militant protests.  Suffragists were most active during the years prior to the adoption of the 19th amendment (August 18, 1920).

SOURCE

"Night of Terror, Timeline, November 12, 1917," Turning Point, www.suffragemovement.org/

Suffragette Parade

Washington, D.C. (1913)

National Archives

EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK IS WOMEN'S SLOGAN

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2405

WOMEN WHO DO MEN'S WORK SHOULD DEMAND MEN'S PAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, August 18, 1917, the National American Woman Suffrage Association* issued an open letter to wage earning suffragists calling on every woman who does men's work "to demand men's pay as a matter of justice to herself and duty to her fellow workers."

The demand came as a result of claims that some employers were using the war emergency as an excuse to employ women at lower wages than they would pay men.

The NAWS wrote...

"In simple justice to themselves, (women) should not do men's work for less than men's pay.  In fairness to the men and their families...they should not undercut the men with whom they will be in competition after the war."

*The National American Woman's Suffrage Association was formed in 1890 by the merger of the NWSA (National Woman's Suffrage Association) & the AWSA (American Woman's Suffrage Association).

Membership in the NAWSA increased to 2 million making it the largest voluntary organization in the United States.

SOURCE

"Equal Pay For Equal Work is Women's Slogan," The Chicago Sunday Tribune, August 19, 1917.

Woman's Suffrage Parade
New York City (1917)
Mural by Allyn Cox
United States Capitol

A GREAT DEMONSTRATION OF AMERICAN PATRIOTISM

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2237

NATION'S CAPITAL PREPARES FOR INAUGURAL FESTIVITIES

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, March 3, 1917, the Nation's Capital prepared for second inaugural festivities of President Woodrow Wilson.  In a story dated March 3, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that the President would be taking part in two inaugural ceremonies.

The first, planned for Sunday, March 4th, was to be a private ceremony held in the President's office at the Capitol where Mr. Wilson would be signing bills during the closing hours of Congress.  The second held on Monday, March 5th was to  be the traditional public ceremony outside the Capitol building after which the President would deliver his second inaugural address.

The Tribune reported that the President would be sworn in on the Wilson family Bible which he had used for his inaugural ceremonies as Governor of New Jersey and for his first inaugural as POTUS.

The Tribune described the coming public inaugural event, which would include thousands of troops lining Pennsylvania Avenue,  as "a great demonstration of American patriotism."  Also mentioned was the planned demonstration by woman suffragists* who would be carrying banners of gold, purple and white in support of the constitutional amendment granting the right to vote to American women.

*Suffragists were persons advocating the extension of suffrage, or the right to vote, especially to women.

SOURCE

"Wilson to Take Oath Today.  Public Rites Due Tomorrow," Chicago Daily Tribune, March 4, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

Woodrow Wilson Accepts

Democratic Nomination of 1916

Long Branch, NJ

Photo by Keller & White

The New York Times Archive