the story of a pioneer-第57章
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its officers。
Three years later; in 1911; another glorious sur…
prise came to me in a very innocent…looking letter。
It was one of many in a heavy mail; and I opened it
absent…mindedly; for the day had been problem…filled。
The writer stated very simply that she wished
to put a large amount into my hands to invest;
to draw on; and to use for the Cause as I saw fit。
The matter was to be a secret between us; and she
wished no subsequent accounting; as she had entire
faith in my ability to put the money to the best
possible use。
The proposition rather dazed me; but I rallied my
forces and replied that I was infinitely grateful; but
that the amount she mentioned was a large one and I
would much prefer to share the responsibility of dis…
bursing it。 Could she not select one more person; at
least; to share the secret and act with me? She re…
plied; telling me to make the selection; if I insisted on
having a confidante; and I sent her the names of Miss
Thomas and Miss Garrett; suggesting that as Miss
Thomas had done so much of the work in con…
nection with the 60;000 fund; Miss Garrett might
be willing to accept the detail work of this fund。
My friend replied that either of these ladies would
be perfectly satisfactory to her。 She knew them
both; she said; and I was to arrange the matter as I
chose; as it rested wholly in my hands。
I used this money in subsequent state campaigns;
and I am very sure that to it was largely due the
winning of Arizona; Kansas; and Oregon in 1912;
and of Montana and Nevada in 1914。 It enabled
us for the first time to establish headquarters; se…
cure an office force; and engage campaign speakers。
I also spent some of it in the states we lost then
but will win laterOhio; Wisconsin; and Michigan
using in all more than fifteen thousand dollars。 In
September; 1913; I received another check from the
same friend; showing that she at least was satisfied
with the results we had achieved。
‘‘It goes to you with my love;'' she wrote; ‘‘and
my earnest hopes for further successnot the least
of this a crowning of your faithful; earnest; splendid
work for our beloved Cause。 How blessed it is that
you are our president and leader!''
I had talked to this woman only twice in my life;
and I had not seen her for years when her first check
came; so her confidence in me was an even greater
gift than her royal donation toward our Cause。
XIV
RECENT CAMPAIGNS
The interval between the winning of Idaho and
Utah in 1896 and that of Washington in 1910
seemed very long to lovers of the Cause。 We were
working as hard as everharder; indeed; for the
opposition against us was growing stronger as our
opponents realized what triumphant woman suf…
frage would mean to the underworld; the grafters;
and the whited sepulchers in public office。 But in
1910 we were cheered by our Washington victory;
followed the next year by the winning of California。
Then; with our splendid banner year of 1912 came
the winning of three statesArizona; Kansas; and
Oregonpreceded by a campaign so full of vim and
interest that it must have its brief chronicle here。
To begin; we conducted in 1912 the largest num…
ber of campaigns we had ever undertaken; working
in six states in which constitutional amendments
were pendingOhio; Michigan; Wisconsin; Oregon;
Arizona; and Kansas。 Personally; I began my work
in Ohio in August; with the modest aspiration of
speaking in each of the principal towns in every one
of these states。 In Michigan I had the invaluable
assistance of Mrs。 Lawrence Lewis; of Philadelphia;
and I visited at this time the region of my old home;
greatly changed since the days of my girlhood; and
talked to the old friends and neighbors who had
turned out in force to welcome me。 They showed
their further interest in the most satisfactory way;
by carrying the amendment in their part of the
state。
At least four and five speeches a day were expected;
and as usual we traveled in every sort of conveyance;
from freight…cars to eighty horse…power French auto…
mobiles。 In Eau Clair; Wisconsin; I spoke at the
races immediately after the passing of a procession
of cattle。 At the end of the procession rode a wom…
an in an ox…cart; to represent pioneer days。 She
wore a calico gown and a sunbonnet; and drove her
ox…team with genuine skill; and the last touch to
the picture she made was furnished by the presence
of a beautiful biplane which whirred lightly in the
air above her。 The obvious comparison was too
good to ignore; so I told my hearers that their women
to…day were still riding in ox…teams while the men
soared in the air; and that women's work in the
world's service could be properly done only when
they too were allowed to fly。
In Oregon we were joined by Miss Lucy Anthony。
There; at Pendleton; I spoke during the great
‘‘round up;'' holding the meeting at night on the
street; in which thousands of horsemencowboys;
Indians; and ranchmenwere riding up and down;
blowing horns; shouting; and singing。 It seemed
impossible to interest an audience under such con…
ditions; but evidently the men liked variety; for
when we began to speak they quieted down and
closed around us until we had an audience that filled
the streets in every direction and as far as our voices
could reach。 Never have we had more courteous or
enthusiastic listeners than those wild and happy
horsemen。 Best of all; they not only cheered our
sentiments; but they followed up their cheers with
their votes。 I spoke from an automobile; and when
I had finished one of the cowboys rode close to me
and asked for my New York address。 ‘‘You will
hear from me later;'' he said; when he had made a
note of it。 In time I received a great linen banner;
on which he had made a superb pen…and…ink sketch
of himself and his horse; and in every corner sketches
of scenes in the different states where women voted;
together with drawings of all the details of cowboy
equipment。 Over these were drawn the words:
WOMAN SUFFRAGEWE ARE ALL FOR IT。
The banner hangs to…day in the National Head…
quarters。
In California Mr。 Edwards presented me with the
money to purchase the diamond in Miss Anthony's
flag pin representing the victory of his state the
preceding year; and in Arizona one of the high…
lights of the campaign was the splendid effort of
Mrs。 Frances Munds; the state president; and Mrs。
Alice Park; of Palo Alto; California; who were carry…
ing on the work in their headquarters with tre…
mendous courage; and; as it seemed to me; almost
unaided。 Mrs。 Park's specialty was the distribu…
tion of suffrage literature; which she circulated with
remarkable judgment。 The Governor of Arizona
was in favor of our Cause; but there were so few
active workers available that to me; at least; the
winning of the state was a happy surprise。
In Kansas we stole some of the prestige of Champ
Clark; who was making political speeches in the
same region。 At one station a brass…band and a
great gathering were waiting for Mr。 Clark's train
just as our train drew in; so the local suffragists per…
suaded the band to play for us; too; and I made a
speech to the inspiring accompaniment of ‘‘Hail to
the Chief。'' The passengers on our train were great…
ly impressed; thinking it was all for us; the crowd
at the station were glad to be amused until the great
man came; and I was glad of the opportunity to
talk to so many representative menso we were
all happy。
In the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth I told the
old men of the days when my father and brothers
left us in the wilderness; and my mother and I cared
for the home while they fought at the frontand
I have always believed that much of the large vote
we received at Leavenworth was cast by those old
soldiers。
No one who knows the con