Women’s Suffrage: 100 years later
June 4, 1919
In this issue of The Paper, we focus on the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America: the right to vote for women. It is by all accounts a historic achievement. And yet, with all the progress in society that we have made since that day, it is easy to forget how recently it all happened — just one hundred years ago. We had cars and planes before then.
Last month marks one hundred years since the United States Congress voted, in a Constitutional amendment, to give women the right to vote. And with all the progress in society that we have made since then, it is easy to forget how recently this all happened. We had cars and planes before women could vote.
Because none of us lived through this time, it is easy to forget how wide its impact truly was. Though it wasn’t without its opponents, of the five political parties vying in the 1920 presidential elections, all five supported suffrage. Every candidate for political office quickly realized the need, and the value, of appealing to the vote of women. And around the world, the amendment’s passing in the US paved the way for other countries to pass similar laws.
Today, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, the idea of women not having a vote probably sounds crazy. But at that time, it was a major debate. Just like the men who stood up for suffrage back then, it can seem like a tough choice to stand up for others today. But the lesson this story tells us is clear: stand up with conviction, for one day it will have been the obvious choice.
OUR WOMEN LAWMAKERS IN THE ASSEMBLY
On Last New Year’s night, when most women were playing hostess to parties of merrymakers, two of their sex were sitting in the Assembly Chamber of the State of New York, visible evidence of the fact that at the previous election women voted in this state for the first time.
Doubting Thomases at their Feet
It was the first time, too, that women sat as legislators in the state. And many who still regarded woman suffrage as a bit of an experiment–and it must be confessed that some of these doubting Thomases were members of the Legislature–doubted the wisdom of it all. But they held their peace, and are now glad they did, for the first two have more than fulfilled the expectations of their friends and well-wishers; they have their associates in the Legislature literally at their feet, doubting Thomases and all, although the Thomases no longer doubt.
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What One Veteran Senator ThinksOf the legislative leaders here the eldest in point of service is Senator J Henry Walters, president pro tem. of the Senate. Accordingly, his observations on the advent of the woman legislator and the effect on legislation of the entrance of women into politics was first sought.
“The entrance of women into politics,” said Senator Walters,“hasproven what the women who fought for the vote maintained: that the only effect of women in politics on public affairs would be for the better. It is too early to point to better things which, it was predicted, the enfranchisement of women would bring about. But this can be said: that there has been no action precipitated by women acting as women, nor has any been attempted.
“What I wish to convey is that any legislation being advocated by women is legislation that they regard as being for the common good. And I cannot conceive offhand any better way of answering the question‘Whatdo I think of women as legislators?’ than to say that I wish there were more of them.”
– New York Tribune, March 2, 2019
SHALL THE STATE SURRENDER TO THE ANTHONY AMENDMENT?
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, in a decision rendered June 3, 1918, declared:
“The power of the States to regulate their purely internal affairs by such laws as seem wise to the local authority IS INHERENT AND HAS NEVER BEEN SURRENDERED TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.”
“The grant of authority over a purely FEDERAL matter was not intended to destroy the LOCAL POWER ALWAYS EXISTING AND CAREFULLY RESERVED TO THE STATES IN THE TENTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.”
“IT MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN that the Nation IS MADE UP OF STATES to which are entrusted the powers of local government. And to them and TO THE PEOPLE the powers not expressly delegated to the National Government ARE RESERVED. If Congress can thus regulate matters entrusted to local authority, THE POWER OF THE STATES MAY BE ELIMINATED, and thus OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BE PRACTICALLY DESTROYED.”
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Any State that wants woman suffrage can have it WITHOUT any Federal Amendment. The FEDERAL AMENDMENT is designed solely to FORCE WOMAN SUFFRAGE on States where THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT IT.“We no longer want a referendum, we no longer will take a referendum, and, therefore we ask for a Federal Amendment,” declared Mrs. C. C. Catt, president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, before the House Woman Suffrage Committee January 4, 1918.
In 22 State elections since 1912, woman suffrage has been DEFEATED AT THE POLLS by 1,386,598 majority. In 14 State elections since 1890, woman suffrage was adopted by 244,580.(Forthe 14 States, of which 103,863 was given IN New York CITY.) The total majorities AGAINST have been FOUR TIMES the total majorities IN FAVOR, and OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY, the majorities AGAINST have been nearly TEN TIMES the majorities in favor. The 14 States that have voted FOR woman suffrage were perfectly free to have it, however small the majorities in its favor. But the FEDERAL AMENDMENT IS DESIGNED TO FORCE WOMAN SUFFRAGE UPON THE STATES THAT DO NOT WANT IT AND WILL NOT TAKE IT BY POPULAR VOTE.
– Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 2, 1919
27,000,000 WOMEN HAVE RIGHT TO VOTE
Campaign Opened in Seneca Falls Started Movement Which Enveloped WorldWoman suffrage was won for the women of all the states in the Union when Tennessee, the thirty-sixth state, ratified the Federal amendment. Approximately 27,000,000 women will be entitled to vote in the Presidential election this fall. State Suffrage already had enfranchised 17,500,000, and ratification adds to this number 9,500,000.
This marks the end of the women’s campaign for the ballot which began obscurely in a little meeting in Seneca Falls, N.Y., in 1848, swept across this country, and extended the political freedom of women to nearly every other nation in the civilized world.
Fifteen states in the United States had conferred full franchise rights on women, and in fifteen others women were entitled to vote for President and for certain municipal offices, but not for members of Congress.
The suffrage amendment resolution was passed by the Congress on June 4, 1919. Its wording was that of the original Susan B. Anthony amendments, drawn up by the pioneer suffragist soon after the Civil War had enfranchised the colored people and following the form of the Fifteenth Amendment. It reads:
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
“Congress shall have power by appropriate legislation to enforce the provisions of this article.”
– New York Tribune, August 19, 1920
