首页 >出版文学> The Story of an African Farm>第18章
  IwasonalecturetourinOhioinApril,1908,whenonenight,asIwasstartingforthehallwherethelecturewastobegiven,mytelephonebellrang。
  ``Longdistancewantsyou,’’theoperatorsaid,andthenextminuteavoiceIrecognizedasthatofMissThomaswasofferingcongratulations。``Thelastdollarofthe$60,000,’’sheadded,``waspledgedatfouro’clockthisafternoon。’’
  IwassoovercomebythenewsthatIdroppedthereceiverandshookinaviolentnervousattack,andthistremblingcontinuedthroughoutmylecture。
  Ithadnotseemedpossiblethatsuchaburdencouldbeliftedfrommyshoulders;$7,500ayearwouldgreatlyaidourwork,and$4,500ayear,eventhoughdividedamongthreeofficers,wouldbeamostwel—
  comehelptoeach。Assubsequentlyarranged,thesalariesdidnotcometousthroughtheNationalAssociationtreasury;theywerepaiddirectlybyMissThomasandMissGarrettascustodiansofthefund。SoitisquitecorrecttosaythatnosalarieshaveeverbeenpaidbytheNationalAssociationtoitsofficers。
  Threeyearslater,in1911,anotherglorioussur—
  prisecametomeinaveryinnocent—lookingletter。
  Itwasoneofmanyinaheavymail,andIopeneditabsent—mindedly,forthedayhadbeenproblem—filled。
  Thewriterstatedverysimplythatshewishedtoputalargeamountintomyhandstoinvest,todrawon,andtousefortheCauseasIsawfit。
  Thematterwastobeasecretbetweenus,andshewishednosubsequentaccounting,asshehadentirefaithinmyabilitytoputthemoneytothebestpossibleuse。
  Thepropositionratherdazedme,butIralliedmyforcesandrepliedthatIwasinfinitelygrateful,butthattheamountshementionedwasalargeoneandI
  wouldmuchprefertosharetheresponsibilityofdis—
  bursingit。Couldshenotselectonemoreperson,atleast,tosharethesecretandactwithme?Shere—
  plied,tellingmetomaketheselection,ifIinsistedonhavingaconfidante,andIsentherthenamesofMissThomasandMissGarrett,suggestingthatasMissThomashaddonesomuchoftheworkincon—
  nectionwiththe$60,000fund,MissGarrettmightbewillingtoacceptthedetailworkofthisfund。
  Myfriendrepliedthateitheroftheseladieswouldbeperfectlysatisfactorytoher。Sheknewthemboth,shesaid,andIwastoarrangethematterasI
  chose,asitrestedwhollyinmyhands。
  Iusedthismoneyinsubsequentstatecampaigns,andIamverysurethattoitwaslargelyduethewinningofArizona,Kansas,andOregonin1912,andofMontanaandNevadain1914。Itenabledusforthefirsttimetoestablishheadquarters,se—
  cureanofficeforce,andengagecampaignspeakers。
  Ialsospentsomeofitinthestateswelostthenbutwillwinlater——Ohio,Wisconsin,andMichigan——
  usinginallmorethanfifteenthousanddollars。InSeptember,1913,Ireceivedanothercheckfromthesamefriend,showingthatsheatleastwassatisfiedwiththeresultswehadachieved。
  ``Itgoestoyouwithmylove,’’shewrote,``andmyearnesthopesforfurthersuccess——nottheleastofthisacrowningofyourfaithful,earnest,splendidworkforourbelovedCause。Howblesseditisthatyouareourpresidentandleader!’’
  Ihadtalkedtothiswomanonlytwiceinmylife,andIhadnotseenherforyearswhenherfirstcheckcame;soherconfidenceinmewasanevengreatergiftthanherroyaldonationtowardourCause。
  XIV
  RECENTCAMPAIGNS
  TheintervalbetweenthewinningofIdahoandUtahin1896andthatofWashingtonin1910
  seemedverylongtoloversoftheCause。Wewereworkingashardasever——harder,indeed,fortheoppositionagainstuswasgrowingstrongerasouropponentsrealizedwhattriumphantwomansuf—
  fragewouldmeantotheunderworld,thegrafters,andthewhitedsepulchersinpublicoffice。Butin1910wewerecheeredbyourWashingtonvictory,followedthenextyearbythewinningofCalifornia。
  Then,withoursplendidbanneryearof1912camethewinningofthreestates——Arizona,Kansas,andOregon——precededbyacampaignsofullofvimandinterestthatitmusthaveitsbriefchroniclehere。
  Tobegin,weconductedin1912thelargestnum—
  berofcampaignswehadeverundertaken,workinginsixstatesinwhichconstitutionalamendmentswerepending——Ohio,Michigan,Wisconsin,Oregon,Arizona,andKansas。Personally,IbeganmyworkinOhioinAugust,withthemodestaspirationofspeakingineachoftheprincipaltownsineveryoneofthesestates。InMichiganIhadtheinvaluableassistanceofMrs。LawrenceLewis,ofPhiladelphia,andIvisitedatthistimetheregionofmyoldhome,greatlychangedsincethedaysofmygirlhood,andtalkedtotheoldfriendsandneighborswhohadturnedoutinforcetowelcomeme。Theyshowedtheirfurtherinterestinthemostsatisfactoryway,bycarryingtheamendmentintheirpartofthestate。
  Atleastfourandfivespeechesadaywereexpected,andasusualwetraveledineverysortofconveyance,fromfreight—carstoeightyhorse—powerFrenchauto—
  mobiles。InEauClair,Wisconsin,Ispokeattheracesimmediatelyafterthepassingofaprocessionofcattle。Attheendoftheprocessionrodeawom—
  aninanox—cart,torepresentpioneerdays。Sheworeacalicogownandasunbonnet,anddroveherox—teamwithgenuineskill;andthelasttouchtothepictureshemadewasfurnishedbythepresenceofabeautifulbiplanewhichwhirredlightlyintheairaboveher。Theobviouscomparisonwastoogoodtoignore,soItoldmyhearersthattheirwomento—daywerestillridinginox—teamswhilethemensoaredintheair,andthatwomen’sworkintheworld’sservicecouldbeproperlydoneonlywhentheytoowereallowedtofly。
  InOregonwewerejoinedbyMissLucyAnthony。
  There,atPendleton,Ispokeduringthegreat``roundup,’’holdingthemeetingatnightonthestreet,inwhichthousandsofhorsemen——cowboys,Indians,andranchmen——wereridingupanddown,blowinghorns,shouting,andsinging。Itseemedimpossibletointerestanaudienceundersuchcon—
  ditions,butevidentlythemenlikedvariety,forwhenwebegantospeaktheyquieteddownandclosedaroundusuntilwehadanaudiencethatfilledthestreetsineverydirectionandasfarasourvoicescouldreach。Neverhavewehadmorecourteousorenthusiasticlistenersthanthosewildandhappyhorsemen。Bestofall,theynotonlycheeredoursentiments,buttheyfolloweduptheircheerswiththeirvotes。Ispokefromanautomobile,andwhenIhadfinishedoneofthecowboysrodeclosetomeandaskedformyNewYorkaddress。``Youwillhearfrommelater,’’hesaid,whenhehadmadeanoteofit。IntimeIreceivedagreatlinenbanner,onwhichhehadmadeasuperbpen—and—inksketchofhimselfandhishorse,andineverycornersketchesofscenesinthedifferentstateswherewomenvoted,togetherwithdrawingsofallthedetailsofcowboyequipment。Overtheseweredrawnthewords:
  WOMANSUFFRAGE——WEAREALLFORIT。
  Thebannerhangsto—dayintheNationalHead—
  quarters。
  InCaliforniaMr。EdwardspresentedmewiththemoneytopurchasethediamondinMissAnthony’sflagpinrepresentingthevictoryofhisstatetheprecedingyear;andinArizonaoneofthehigh—
  lightsofthecampaignwasthesplendideffortofMrs。FrancesMunds,thestatepresident,andMrs。
  AlicePark,ofPaloAlto,California,whowerecarry—
  ingontheworkintheirheadquarterswithtre—
  mendouscourage,and,asitseemedtome,almostunaided。Mrs。Park’sspecialtywasthedistribu—
  tionofsuffrageliterature,whichshecirculatedwithremarkablejudgment。TheGovernorofArizonawasinfavorofourCause,butthereweresofewactiveworkersavailablethattome,atleast,thewinningofthestatewasahappysurprise。
  InKansaswestolesomeoftheprestigeofChampClark,whowasmakingpoliticalspeechesinthesameregion。Atonestationabrass—bandandagreatgatheringwerewaitingforMr。Clark’strainjustasourtraindrewin;sothelocalsuffragistsper—
  suadedthebandtoplayforus,too,andImadeaspeechtotheinspiringaccompanimentof``HailtotheChief。’’Thepassengersonourtrainweregreat—
  lyimpressed,thinkingitwasallforus;thecrowdatthestationweregladtobeamuseduntilthegreatmancame,andIwasgladoftheopportunitytotalktosomanyrepresentativemen——sowewereallhappy。
  IntheSoldiers’HomeatLeavenworthItoldtheoldmenofthedayswhenmyfatherandbrothersleftusinthewilderness,andmymotherandIcaredforthehomewhiletheyfoughtatthefront——andIhavealwaysbelievedthatmuchofthelargevotewereceivedatLeavenworthwascastbythoseoldsoldiers。
  NoonewhoknowstheconditionsdoubtsthatwereallywonMichiganthatyearaswellasthethreeotherstates,butstrangethingsweredoneinthecount。Forexample,inoneprecinctinDetroitfortymorevoteswerecountedagainstouramend—
  mentthantherewerevotersinthedistrict。Inotherdistrictsthereweresevenoreightmorevotesthanvoters。Undertheseconditionsitisnotsur—
  prisingthat,afterthevigorousrecountingfollowingthefirstwide—spreadreportsofoursuccess,Michi—
  ganwasdeclaredlosttous。
  Thecampaignof1914,inwhichwewonMontanaandNevada,deservesspecialmentionhere。Imustexpressalsomyregretthatasthisbookwillbeonthepressesbeforethecampaignof1915isended,I
  cannotincludeinthesereminiscencestheresultsofourworkinNewYorkandotherstates。
  Asabeginningofthe1914campaignIspentadayinChicago,onthewaytoSouthDakota,totakemypartinamoving—picturesuffrageplay。Itwasmyfirstexperienceasanactress,andIfounditataxingone。AsamodestbeginningIwasorderedtomakeaspeechinthirty—threeseconds——somethingofatask,asmyusualtimeallowanceforaspeechisonehour。Themanagerassuredme,however,thataspeechofthirty—threesecondsmadetwenty—sevenfeetoffilm——enough,hethought,toconvertevenalieutenant—governor!
  TheDakotacampaigns,asusual,resolvedthem—
  selveslargelyintofeatsofphysicalendurance,inwhichIwasinspiredbythefineexampleofthestatepresidents——Mrs。JohnPyleofSouthDakotaandMrs。ClaraV。DarrowofNorthDakota。Everydaywemadespeechesfromtherearplatformofthetrainsonwhichweweretraveling——sometimesonlytwoorthree,sometimeshalfadozen。OnedayI
  rodeonehundredmilesinanautomobileandspokeinfivedifferenttowns。AnotherdayIhadtomakeajourneyinafreight—car。Itwas,withafewex—
  ceptions,theroughesttravelingIhadyetknown,andittookmesixhourstoreachmydestination。
  WhileIwasgatheringuphair—pinsandpullingmy—
  selftogethertoleavethecarattheendoftherideIaskedtheconductorhowfarwehadtraveled。
  ``Fortymiles,’’saidhe,tersely。
  ``ThatmeansfortymilesAHEAD,’’Imurmured。
  ``Howfarupanddown?’’
  ``Oh,ahundredmilesupanddown,’’grinnedtheconductor,andtheexchangeofpersiflagecheeredusboth。
  Thoughwedidnotwin,IhaveverypleasantmemoriesofNorthDakota,forMrs。Darrowac—
  companiedmeduringtheentirecampaign,andtookeveryburdenfrommyshoulderssoefficientlythatIhadnothingtodobutmakespeeches。
  InMontanaourmostinterestingdaywasthatoftheStateFair,whichendedwithasuffrageparadethatIwasinvitedtolead。Onthisoccasionthesuffragistswishedmetowearmycapandgownandmydoctor’shood,butasIhadnotbroughtthosegarmentswithme,weborrowedandIproudlyworethecapandgownoftheUnitarianminister。Itwasasmallbutreallybeautifulparade,andallthecos—
  tumesforitweredesignedbythestatepresident,MissJeannetteRankin,towhosefinework,bytheway,combinedwiththeworkofherfriends,thewinningofMontanawaslargelydue。
  InButtethebigstrikewason,andthetownwasundermartiallaw。Alargebanquetwasgivenusthere,andwhenwedroveuptotheclub—housewherethisfestivitywastobeheldwewerestoppedbytwoarmedguardswhoconfronteduswithsternfacesandfixedbayonets。ThesituationseemedsoabsurdthatIburstintohappylaughter,andthusdeeplyoffendedtheearnestyoungguardswhoweregraspingthefixedbayonets。Thissadmemorywaswipedout,however,bytheinterestofthebanquet——
  averydelightfulaffair,attendedbythemayorofButteandotherlocaldignitaries。
  InNevadathemostinterestingfeatureofthecampaignwasthesplendidworkofthewomen。Ineachofthelittletownstherewasthesamespiritofceaselessactivityanddetermination。Thepresi—
  dentoftheStateAssociation,MissAnneMartin,whowasattheheadofthecampaignwork,accom—
  paniedmeoneSundaywhenwedroveseventymilesinamotorandspokefourtimes,andshewasalsomycompanioninawonderfuljourneyoverthemountains。MissMartinwasatirelessandworthyleaderofthefineworkersinherstate。
  InMissouri,underthedirectionofMrs。WalterMcNabbMiller,andinNebraska,whereMrs。E。
  DraperSmithwasmanagingthecampaign,wehadsomeinspiringmeetings。AtLincolnMrs。WilliamJenningsBryanintroducedmetothebiggestaudi—
  enceoftheyear,andtheprogrammetookonaspecialinterestfromthefactthatitincludedMrs。Bryan’sdebutasaspeakerforsuffrage。Sheisatallandattractivewomanwithanextremelypleasantvoice,andshemadeanadmirablespeech——clear,terse,andmuchtothepoint,puttingherselfonrecordasastrongsupporterofthewoman—suffragemovement。
  Therewasalsoanamusingaftermathofthisocca—
  sion,whichSecretaryBryanhimselfconfidedtomeseveralmonthslaterwhenImethiminAtlanticCity。Heassuredme,withthedeepsincerityheassumessowell,thatforfivenightsaftermyspeechinLincolnhiswifehadkepthimawakelisteningtoherreportofit——andheadded,solemnly,thathenowknewit``byheart。’’
  AlesspleasingmemoryofNebraskaisthatIlostmyvoicethereandmyactivitiesweresadlyinter—
  rupted。ButIwastakentothehomeofMr。andMrs。FrancisA。Brogan,ofOmaha,andsuppliedwithatrainednurse,athroatspecialist,andsuchcareandcomfortthatIreallyenjoyedtheenforcedrest——knowing,too,thatthecampaigncommitteewascarryingonourworkwithgreatenthusiasm。
  InMissourioneofourmostsignificantmeetingswasinBowlingGreen,thehomeofChampClark,SpeakeroftheHouse。Mrs。Clarkgaveareception,madeaspeech,andintroducedmeatthemeeting,asMrs。BryanhaddoneinLincoln。SheisoneofthebrightestmemoriesofmyMissouriexperience,for,withfewexceptions,sheisthemostentertainingwomanIhaveevermet。Subsequentlywehadanall—daymotorjourneytogether,duringwhichMrs。
  ClarkrarelystoppedtalkingandIevenmorerarelystoppedlaughing。
  XV
  CONVENTIONINCIDENTS
  From1887to1914wehadasuffrageconventioneveryyear,andIattendedeachofthem。Inpre—
  cedingchaptersIhavementionedvariousconventionepisodesofmoreorlessimportance。Now,lookingbackoverthemallasIneartheendoftheseremi—
  niscences,Irecallafewadditionalincidentswhichhadabearingonlaterevents。
  Therewas,forexample,themuch—discussedat—
  tackonsuffrageduringtheAtlantaconventionof1895,byaprominentclergymanofthatcitywhosenameImercifullywithhold。OntheSundaypre—
  cedingourarrivalthisgentlemanpreachedasermonwarningeveryonetokeepawayfromourmeetings,asoureffortwasnottosecurethefranchiseforwomen,buttoencouragetheintermarriageoftheblackandwhiteraces。IncidentallyhedeclaredthatthesuffragistsweretryingtobreakupthehomesofAmericaanddegradethemoralsofwomen,andthatwewereallinfidelsandblasphemers。Heendedwithapersonalattackonme,sayingthatonthepreviousSundayIhadpreachedintheEpworthMemorialMethodistChurchofCleveland,Ohio,asermonwhichwasofsoblasphemousanaturethatnothingcouldpurifythechurchafteritexcepttoburnitdown。
  Asusualatourconventions,IhadbeenannouncedtopreachthesermonatourSundayconference,andIneedhardlypointoutthatthereverendgentle—
  man’schargecreatedadeeppublicinterestinthiseffort。Ihadalreadyselectedatext,butIim—
  mediatelychangedmyplansandannouncedthatIwouldrepeatthesermonIhaddeliveredinCleve—
  landandwhichtheAtlantaministerconsideredsoblasphemous。TheannouncementbroughtoutanaudiencewhichfilledtheOperaHouseandcalledforasquadofpoliceofficerstokeepinorderthestreetcrowdthatcouldnotsecureentrance。TheassemblagehadnaturallyexpectedthatIwouldmakesomereplytotheclergyman’sattack,butI
  madenoreferencewhatevertohim。Imerelyre—
  peated,withemphasis,thesermonIhaddeliveredinCleveland。
  Attheconclusionoftheserviceoneofthetrusteesofmyreverendcritic’schurchcameandapologizedforhispastor。Hehadahighregardforhim,thetrusteesaid,butinthisinstancetherecouldbenodoubtinthemindofanyonewhohadheardbothsermonsthatofthetwominewasthetolerant,thereverent,andtheChristianone。Theattackmademanyfriendsforus,firstbecauseofitsinjustice,andnextbecauseofthegood—humoredtolerancewithwhichthesuffragistsacceptedit。
  TheAtlantaconvention,bytheway,wasar—
  rangedandlargelyfinancedbytheMissesHoward——
  threesisterslivinginColumbus,Georgia,andeachanofficeroftheGeorgiaWomanSuffrageAssociation。
  ItisaremarkablefactthatinmanyofourSouthernstatesthesuffragemovementhasbeenledbythreesisters。InKentuckythethreeClaysisterswereformanyyearsleadersinthework。InTexasthethreeFinnegansistersdidsplendidwork;inLoui—
  sianatheGordonsisterswereourstanchestallies,whileinVirginiawehadtheinvaluableaidofMaryJohnston,thenovelist,andhertwosisters。Weusedtosay,laughingly,iftherewasafailuretoorganizeanystateintheSouth,thatitmustbeduetothefactthatnofamilytherehadthreesisterstostartthemovement。
  FromtheAtlantaconventionwewentdirectlytoWashingtontoattendtheconventionoftheNationalCouncilofWomen,andonthefirstdayofthiscouncilFrederickDouglasscametothemeet—
  ing。Mr。Douglasshadaspecialplaceintheheartsofsuffragists,forthereasonthatatthefirstcon—
  ventioneverheldforwomansuffrageintheUnitedStates(atSenecaFalls,NewYork)hewastheonlypersonpresentwhostoodbyElizabethCadyStan—
  tonwhenshepresentedherresolutioninfavorofvotesforwomen。EvenLucretiaMottwasstartledbythisradicalstep,andprivatelybreathedintotheearofherfriend,``Elizabeth,theeismakingusridiculous!’’FrederickDouglass,however,tookthefloorindefenseofMrs。Stanton’smotion,aservicewesuffragistsneverforgot。
  Therefore,whenthepresidingofficerofthecouncil,Mrs。MayWrightSewall,sawMr。DouglassentertheconventionhallinWashingtononthisparticularmorn—
  ing,sheappointedSusanB。Anthonyandmeacom—
  mitteetoescorthimtoaseatontheplatform,whichwegladlydid。Mr。Douglassmadeashortspeechandthenleftthebuilding,goingdirectlytohishome。
  There,onenteringhishall,hehadanattackofheartfailureanddroppeddeadashewasremovinghisovercoat。Hisdeathcastagloomoverthecon—
  vention,andhisfuneral,whichtookplacethreedayslater,wasattendedbymanyprominentmenandwomenwhowereamongthedelegates。MissAnthonyandIwereinvitedtotakepartinthefuneralservices,andshemadeashortaddress,whileIofferedaprayer。
  TheeventhadanaftermathinAtlanta,foritledourclericalenemytorepeathischargesagainstus,andtoofferthefuneralofFrederickDouglassasproofthatwewerehandinglovewiththenegrorace。
  UnderthegraciousdirectionofMissKateGordonandtheLouisianaWomanSuffrageAssociation,weheldanespeciallyinspiringconventioninNewOrleansin1903。Innopreviousconventionwerearrangementsmoreperfect,andcertainlynowhereelsedidthemenofacommunityco—operatemoregen—
  erouslywiththewomeninentertainingus。Aclubofmenpaidtherentofourhall,charteredasteam—
  boatandgaveusarideontheMississippi,andinmanyotherwayshelpedtomaketheoccasionasuc—
  cess。MissGordon,whowaschairmanoftheprogrammecommittee,introducedtheinnovationofputtingmebeforetheaudiencefortwentyminuteseveryevening,atthecloseoftheregularsession,asatargetforquestions。Thosepresentwereprivilegedtoaskanyquestionstheypleased,andI
  answeredthem——ifIcould。
  Wewereallconsciousofthedangersattendingadiscussionofthenegroquestion,anditwasunder—
  stoodamongtheNorthernwomenthatwemusttakeeveryprecautiontoavoidbeingledintosuchdiscussion。IthadnotbeeneasytopersuadeMissAnthonyofthewisdomofthiscourse;herwaywastofaceissuessquarelyandoutintheopen。ButsheagreedthatwemustrespecttheconvictionsoftheSouthernmenandwomenwhowereentertain—
  ingussohospitably。
  Ontheopeningnight,asItookmyplacetoanswerquestions,almostthefirstslippassedupborethesewords:
  WhatisyourpurposeinbringingyourconventiontotheSouth?Isitthedesireofsuffragiststoforceuponusthesocialequalityofblackandwhitewomen?Politicalequalitylaysthefoundationforsocialequality。Ifyougivetheballottowomen,won’tyoumaketheblackandwhitewomanequalpoliticallyandthereforelaythefoundationforafutureclaimofsocialequality?
  Ilaidthepaperononesideanddidnotanswerthequestion。Thesecondnightitcametomeagain,putinthesamewords,andagainIignoredit。Thethirdnightitcamewiththisaddition:
  Evidentlyyoudonotdaretoanswerthisquestion。There—
  foreourconclusionisthatthisisyourpurpose。
  WhenIhadreadthisIwenttothefrontoftheplatform。
  ``Here,’’Isaid,``isaquestionwhichhasbeenaskedmeonthreesuccessivenights。IhavenotanswereditbecauseweNorthernwomenhadde—
  cidednottoenterintoanydiscussionoftheracequestion。ButnowIamtoldbythewriterofthisnotethatwedarenotanswerit。Iwishtosaythatwedaretoansweritifyoudaretohaveitanswered——andIleaveittoyoutodecidewhetherIshallansweritornot。’’
  Ireadthequestionaloud。Thentheaudiencecalledfortheanswer,andIgaveitinthesewords,quotedasaccuratelyasIcanrememberthem:
  ``Ifpoliticalequalityisthebasisofsocialequality,andifbygrantingpoliticalequalityyoulaythefoundationforaclaimofsocialequality,Icanonlyanswerthatyouhavealreadylaidthatclaim。Youdidnotwaitforwomansuffrage,butdisfranchisedbothyourblackandyourwhitewomen,thusmakingthempoliticallyequal。Butyouhavedonemorethanthat。Youhaveputtheballotintothehandsofyourblackmen,thusmakingthemthepoliticalsuperiorsofyourwhitewomen。Neverbeforeinthehistoryoftheworldhavemenmadeformerslavesthepoliticalmastersoftheirformermistresses!’’
  Thepointwenthomeanditwentdeep。Idroveitinalittlefurther。
  ``ThewomenoftheSoutharenotalone,’’Isaid,``intheirhumiliation。AllthewomenofAmericashareitwiththem。ThereisnoothernationintheworldinwhichwomenholdthepositionofpoliticaldegradationourAmericanwomenholdto—day。
  GermanwomenaregovernedbyGermanmen;
  FrenchwomenaregovernedbyFrenchmen。ButintheseUnitedStatesAmericanwomenaregov—
  ernedbyeveryraceofmenunderthelightofthesun。Thereisnotacolorfromwhitetoblack,fromredtoyellow,thereisnotanationfrompoletopole,thatdoesnotsenditscontingenttogovernAmericanwomen。IfAmericanmenarewillingtoleavetheirwomeninapositionasdegradingasthistheyneednotbesurprisedwhenAmericanwomenresolvetoliftthemselvesoutofit。’’
  ForafullmomentafterIhadfinishedtherewasabsolutesilenceintheaudience。Wedidnotknowwhatwouldhappen。Then,suddenly,asthetruthofthestatementstruckthem,themenbegantoapplaud——andthedangerofthatsituationwasover。
  Anotherepisodehaditspartindrivingthesuf—
  fragelessonhometoSouthernwomen。TheLegis—
  laturehadpassedabillpermittingtax—payingwomentovoteatanyelectionwherespecialtaxesweretobeimposedforimprovements,andthefirstelectionfollowingthepassageofthisbillwasoneinNewOrleans,inwhichthequestionofbetterdrainageforthecitywasbeforethepublic。MissGordonandthesuffrageassociationknownastheEraClubenteredenthusiasticallyintothefightforgooddrainage。Accordingtothelawwomencouldvotebyproxyiftheypreferred,insteadofinperson,soMissGordondrovetothehomesoftheoldcon—