"WOMEN WON'T VOTE FOR WOMEN"

AFTER MARCH 4 NEXT, NO WOMEN IN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 9, 1922, the Evening Star reports "after March 4 next there will not be a single representative of the (female) sex in the national Congress."

The situation became clear as revised returns came in from recent congressional elections.

The Star describes this as a "stunning blow" coming at a time when women politicians were expecting "to make their best showing."

Alice Paul*, obviously upset with the turn of events, said women only have themselves to blame.  She said...

"Women won't vote for women."

She added that American women "are far behind the women of the rest of the world." 

*Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey & educated at Swarthmore College.  ASP earned her PhD at University of Pennsylvania, 1910.  She became a vocal leader of the women's suffrage movement & worked for passage of the 19th amendment.

SOURCES

"Alice Paul," edited by Debra Michals, PhD, 2015, www.womenshistory.org/

"Stunning Blow Dealt Woman Politicians in Congress Race," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 9, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

Alice Paul

Toasts Passage of 19th Amendment

August 26 1920

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

 

"MARYLAND CHALLENGE TO VOTES FOR WOMEN FAILS"

SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT UPHELD UNANIMOUSLY BY SUPREME COURT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 27, 1922, the United States Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the 19th amendment.  The decision was announced by Justice Louis Brandeis*.

The state of Maryland had challenged the validity of the Suffrage amendment on the grounds that the State constitution limited the right to vote to men.

The New York Tribune reports "the decision today so thoroughly disposed of the objections (that there is) no probability that any argument could be presented which would cause the court to change its views."

Alice Paul**, vice-president of the National Women's Party said...

"women are now free to devote their energies to completing the equal rights program."

*Louis Dembitz Brandeis (1856-1941) was born in Louisville, Kentucky & earned his L.L.B. at Harvard University.  LDB served on the USSC 1916-1939 & is considered by legal scholars as making the "greatest defenses of freedom of speech & the right to privacy."

**Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, NJ & educated at Swarthmore College.  An outspoken suffragist & feminist, ASP was arrested 7 times in seeking equality for women. 

SOURCE

"Suffrage Amendment Is Fully Upheld by Supreme Court," The New York Tribune, February 28, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

    

 

Time Cover

19 October 1925

Time Magazine

"THE VICTORY OF WOMEN TODAY COMPLETES THE POLITICAL DEMOCRACY OF AMERICA"

TENNESSEE MAKES VOTES FOR WOMEN LAW OF THE LAND

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, August 18, 1920, Tennessee's House of Representatives passed the Susan B. Anthony Amendment. The vote marked Tennessee as the 36th and deciding state to make "Votes for Women" the law of the land.

After a "decades-long, national struggle," sex discrimination at the polls of the United States of America was history.   Passage in the Tennessee House, however, had not come easy.

Representative Harry T. Burn of Niota surprised everyone when he voted "Aye".  The vote ended 49 to 47 in favor of the amendment.  After a moment of stunned silence, a great cheer rose from the gallery packed with suffragists.

President of the National Women's Party Alice Paul* said...

"The victory of women today completes the political democracy of America and enfranchises half the people of a great nation."

*Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, NJ & educated at Swarthmore College (1905), University of Pennsylvania (1907), & earned her L.L.B. at American University (1922).  In 1913, ASP co-founded the National Women's Party.  In 1928, she earned a doctorate in Civil Law at American University.

 SOURCES

"How three men, the 'Suffragists' were pivoted to enacting woman's suffrage," by Bill Halton and Tyler Boyd, August 11, 2020, www.tennessean.com/

"August 18, 1920," by David Dismore, Turning Point, www.suffragistmemorial.org/ 

 

VOTE POSTER

League of Women Voters (1920)

Library of Congress Image 

"WE ARE PROTESTING THE CONTINUED DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF WOMEN"

SUFFRAGISTS TO PICKET OUTSIDE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) On June 3, 1920, Alice Paul*, arriving here in Chicago, announced that suffragists would be picketing outside the Republican National Convention scheduled to be held in the Windy City the following week.

The purpose of the picketing was to support final ratification of the 19th Amendment**, a.k.a. the Susan B. Anthony amendment, giving women the right to vote.

Alice Paul said...

"We are protesting against the continued disenfranchisement of women for which the Republican Party has now become responsible."***

*Alice Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey & graduated from Swarthmore College in 1905 & received an M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania (1907).  She earned a law degree, LLM & Doctor of Laws at American University.  AP led the National Woman's Party & the campaign for the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

**19th Amendment: "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied...on account of sex"
 
***The United States Senate approved the 19th amendment by a vote of 56 to 25 on June 4, 1919.  20 Democrats voted for the amendment while 17 voted against it.  36 Republicans voted for while only 8 voted against. The amendment was ratified by Tennessee, the 36th & deciding state, on August 18, 1920.

SOURCES

"June 3 1920:  Suffragists to Protest Republican National Convention," by David Dismore, June 3, 2014.  Feminist Daily Newswire, www.feminist.org/

"Women of Protest:  Photos from the Records of the National Women's Party", Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Alice Paul (1920)

Harris & Ewing, Inc. Photo 

Library of Congress Image

The Woman Suffrage Memorial

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*

SILENT SENTINELS WORE PURPLE, WHITE & GOLD SASHES

SUFFRAGISTS PROTESTING AT WHITE HOUSE ARRESTED

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago, November 10, 1917, a group of suffragists protesting in front of the White House were arrested.
Sources do not agree on the number arrested, but the range is from 31 to 41.

Women supporting their right to vote had been protesting at the White House from the beginning of President Woodrow Wilson's second term.  "Silent Sentinels" wore purple, white and gold sashes.

On October 20, 1917, one of the key leaders of the National Women's Party, Alice Paul*,  had been arrested and two days later was sentenced to seven months at the Occoquan Workhouse. 

While there Miss Paul was transferred to the psychiatric ward at District jail.  Suffragettes who were sent to Occoquan were beaten and tortured by the guards.  

*Alice Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey & graduated from Swarthmore College in 1905 & received an M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania (1907).  She earned a law degree, LLM & Doctor of Laws at American University.

AP led the National Woman's Party & the campaign for the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

SOURCES

"'Night of terror'; The suffragettes who were beaten and tortured for seeking the vote", by Terence McArdle, November 10, 2017, The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/

"Women of Protest:  Photos from the Records of the National Women's Party", Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Alice Paul (1920)

Harris & Ewing, Inc. Photo 

Library of Congress Image

The Woman Suffrage Memorial

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*

SUFFRAGIST BANNER RIPPED TO SHREDS IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2346

ANTI-WILSON SUFFRAGIST BANNER SHREDDED IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) One hundred years ago early this afternoon, June 20, 1917, Walter S. Timmis , a New York architect, and two other men ripped a suffragist* banner from its framework and shredded it to pieces.  

An "angry mob" of approximately 300 men and women stood in front of the West Gate of the White House awaiting the arrival of the Russian mission who were coming to pay their respects to President Woodrow Wilson.

Suffragists displayed a 10 by 3 foot banner which read...

"To the Russian mission:  President Wilson & Envoy Root are deceiving Russia.  They say, 'We are a democracy.  Help us win a world war so that democracies may survive.'  

We, the women of America, tell you that America is not a democracy.  20 million American women are denied the right to vote.

President Wilson is the chief opponent of their national enfranchisement.  Tell our government it must liberate its people before it can claim free Russia as an ally."

Before the attack on the banner, someone in the crowd shouted out, "It's treason!  It's an outrage!"

The national chairwoman of the National Woman's Party, Miss Alice Paul**, said...

"It is those who deny justice and not those who demand it who embarrass the country in its international relations."

*Suffragist--a person advocating the extension of suffrage (the right to vote), especially to women.

**Alice Paul (1885-1977) was born in Mt. Laurel Township, New Jersey & graduated from Swarthmore College in 1905 & received an M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania (1907).  She earned a law degree, LLM & Doctor of Laws at American University.

AP led the National Woman's Party & the campaign for the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

SOURCE

"Women's Banner Torn To Pieces At White House", The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 21, 1917.

Alice Paul (1920)

Harris & Ewing, Inc. Photo 

Library of Congress Image