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the story of a pioneer-第64章

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Woman Suffrage Association; there can be no feeling

but gratitude and elation over the growth of the

work。  Our membership has grown from 17;000

women to more than 200;000; and the number

of auxiliary societies has increased in propor…

tion。



Instead of the old…time experience of one campaign

in ten years; we now have from five to ten campaigns

each year。  From an original yearly expenditure of

14;000 or 15;000 in our campaign work; we now

expend from 40;000 to 50;000。  In New York; in

1915; we have already received pledges of 150;000

for the New York State campaign alone; while

Pennsylvania; Massachusetts; and New Jersey have

made pledges in proportion。



In 1906 full suffrage prevailed in four states;

we now have it in twelve。  Our movement has

advanced from its academic stage until it has

become a vital political factor; no reform in the

country is more heralded by the press or receives

more attention from the public。  It has become

an issue which engages the attention of the entire

nationand toward this result every woman work…

ing for the Cause has contributed to an inspiring

degree。  Splendid team…work; and that alone; has

made our present success possible and our eventual

triumph in every state inevitable。  Every officer

in our organization; every leader in our campaigns;

every speaker; every worker in the ranks; however

humble; has done her share。



I do not claim anything so fantastic and Utopian

as universal harmony among us。  We have had our

troubles and our differences。  I have had mine。 

At every annual convention since the one at Wash…

ington in 1910 there has been an effort to depose

me from the presidency。  There have been some

splendid fighters among my opponentsfine and

high…minded women who sincerely believe that at

sixty…eight I am getting too old for my big job。 

Possibly I am。  Certainly I shall resign it with

alacrity when the majority of women in the organiza…

tion wish me to do so。  At present a large majority

proves annually that it still has faith in my leader…

ship; and with this assurance I am content to

work on。



Looking back over the period covered by these

reminiscences; I realize that there is truth in the

grave charge that I am no longer young; and this

truth was once voiced by one of my little nieces in

a way that brought it strongly home to me。  She

and her small sister of six had declared themselves

suffragettes; and as the first result of their conver…

sion to the Cause both had been laughed at by their

schoolmates。  The younger child came home after

this tragic experience; weeping bitterly and declar…

ing that she did not wish to be a suffragette any

morean exhibition of apostasy for which her wise

sister of eight took her roundly to task。



‘‘Aren't you ashamed of yourself;'' she demanded;

‘‘to stop just because you have been laughed at

once?  Look at Aunt Anna!  SHE has been laughed

at for hundreds of years!''



I sometimes feel that it has indeed been hundreds

of years since my work began; and then again it

seems so brief a time that; by listening for a

moment; I fancy I can hear the echo of my child…

ish…voice preaching to the trees in the Michigan

woods。



But long or short; the one sure thing is that; taking

it all in all; the struggles; the discouragements; the

failures; and the little victories; the fight has been;

as Susan B。 Anthony said in her last hours; ‘‘worth

while。''  Nothing bigger can come to a human being

than to love a great Cause more than life itself; and

to have the privilege throughout life of working for

that Cause。



As for life's other gifts; I have had some of them;

too。  I have made many friendships; I have looked

upon the beauty of many lands; I have the assur…

ance of the respect and affection of thousands of

men and women I have never even met。  Though I

have given all I had; I have received a thousand

times more than I have given。  Neither the world

nor my Cause is indebted to me but from the depths

of a full and very grateful heart I acknowledge my

lasting indebtedness to them both。








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