54-617: The Suffrage Special was an event created by the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage in 1916. The Suffrage Special toured the "free states" which had already allowed women's suffrage in the United States . The delegates were raising awareness of the national women's suffrage amendment. They were also looking to start a new political party, the National Women's Party (NWP). The Suffrage Special, also known as
108-478: A National Woman's Party . In addition, they obtained petitions from across the country to present to President Woodrow Wilson . The tour lasted 38 days and covered the states that had already allowed women's suffrage . The Special was planned to leave Washington, D.C., on April 9, 1916. Louisine Havemeyer , who was unable to take part, donated $ 300 to the Suffrage Special. Much of the financing for
162-704: A large meeting, which was run by Gail Laughlin . The train arrived in Reno, Nevada on April 26 in the evening. On April 27, the Suffrage Special arrived in Carson City, Nevada , where they were met by Governor Emmet D. Boyle . Like women in Los Angeles, women in Nevada were not very supportive of the idea of forming a new women's party. The train stopped in Sacramento in the morning on April 28, during which time
216-573: A luncheon and then at a banquet in the city. The train arrived in Phoenix, Arizona , on April 21, where Dr. Marian Walker Williams welcomed them at a luncheon at the Adams Hotel . The train had also stopped briefly in Maricopa . On April 22, the Suffrage Special envoys had a smaller welcome in Los Angeles. Clara Shortridge Foltz met them at the station with a dozen women and took the group to
270-473: A memoir by Vernon. Other contributors were Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan , Fern S. Ingersoll, and Rebecca Hourwich Reyher . Vernon died on September 2, 1975. In the 2004 film Iron Jawed Angels she was portrayed by Brooke Smith . However, the film does not depict her being arrested and imprisoned: instead, she is shown managing the NWP during Alice Paul's incarceration, including working with lawyers on appeals for
324-596: A national suffrage amendment. In Butte, Spokie, the dog was kidnapped and taken into a saloon, where the men thought the women would not dare to go. Abby Scott Baker retrieved the dog and got the bartender to drink to the "health of suffrage" during the event. The next day, the delegates visited another mine and held another luncheon with speakers at the Thornton Hotel. They traveled from Pocatello to Boise , arriving there on May 9. The envoys arrived in Boise in
378-427: A newspaper called The Suffragist , featuring articles by prominent members including Alice Paul, Lucy Burns and Inez Milholland . The newspaper employed Nina Allender as its main cartoonist, and also published cartoons by artists such as Cornelia Barns, Boardman Robinson and Marietta Andrews. The Congressional Union actively campaigned for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing universal woman suffrage. Following
432-642: A parade from Union Station , proceeding to a reception at the Congressional Union headquarters in the Stevens building. Mounted police acted as escorts to the headquarters. There was a public reception at the Chicago Art Institute that evening and the next day, Governor Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne met with the suffragists in the name of the state of Illinois . These events were well-attended. The Suffrage Special headed for Kansas in
486-564: A rope held by a hundred women and around them, a ring of yellow ribbon was held by the girls. The women then addressed Congress and implored them to support women's suffrage. The envoys had brought a 150-pound iced cake as a gift for President Wilson. In June 1916, the women involved with the Suffrage Special held a Woman's Party Convention in Chicago and created the National Woman's Party (NWP). Delegates represented several states in
540-600: A tour of woman's clubs in the Western United States in Spring of 1916. Since most of the states that had passed the women's vote were in the West, the idea was to recruit and use the voices of women voters from these states to speak for national women's suffrage. The suffragists wanted the women who were allowed to vote in their home states to support the national amendment. The group intended to announce plans to form
594-557: The Alexandria Hotel for a reception. Women in Los Angeles were not excited about the mission of the delegates and were not overly supportive of the formation of another party. The train left Los Angeles on April 24 making a short stop in Santa Barbara . In San Francisco, the Suffrage Special arrived on April 26 and were welcomed by the mayor's secretary, Edward Rainey and later met with Mayor James Rolph . The group held
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#1732802428912648-600: The Equal Rights Amendment . In 1981, a group of women including Mary Ann Beall and notable feminist Sonia Johnson formed an organization they called Congressional Union in New York City to continue to struggle for the ERA. The women were inspired by the suffragists as Johnson noted in her book, Going Out of Our Minds: The Metaphysics of Liberation, "...we called ourselves the Congressional Union, taking
702-627: The Silent Sentinels protests that involved daily picketing of Woodrow Wilson 's White House . Mabel Vernon was born on September 19, 1883, in Wilmington, Delaware , to George Washington Vernon (1820-1901) an editor and publisher of the Wilmington Daily Republican, and Mary Vernon, née Hooton (1843-1933). She graduated from Wilmington Friends School in 1901. She went on to attend Swarthmore College where she
756-500: The Willard Hotel in a highly visible office which they paid for themselves. They started women's "suffrage schools" to spread awareness about their cause and held multiple meetings each day. The CU was never organized by states or districts, but there were different branches of the organization in a number of states. The Washington headquarters was central to their work but they were also a mobile organization. The CU published
810-780: The Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913 that was to occur the following March where it would coincide with the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson. During the Summer of 1913, Vernon and Edith Marsden campaigned for suffrage in Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Long Island. In 1914, Vernon organized for the Congressional Union , travelling through the Southwestern United States and making her way north through California before arriving in Nevada. An accomplished fundraiser, she assisted Anne Martin in Nevada, who
864-567: The "flying squadron" left Washington, D.C., and toured the Western states by train for 38 days starting on April 9, 1916. Famous and well-known suffragists made up the envoy of the Suffrage Special. They toured several states during their journey and were largely well-received. When the tour was over, the delegates of the Suffrage Special visited Congress where they presented petitions for women's suffrage they had collected on their journey. The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage started planning
918-465: The Congressional Union, and Alice Paul was in charge. A Campaign Committee was formed within the party with Anne Martin serving as chairman. In 1917, the two organizations officially joined to form the National Woman's Party (NWP) and elected Alice Paul as their chairman. After the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the National Woman's Party launched a long campaign to secure the passage of
972-726: The Eastern United States and the Midwest . Anne Henrietta Martin from Nevada accompanied the delegates for part of the journey. Women who had been chosen at the Woman Voter Conference in Salt Lake City accompanied the original envoys. Spokie, or Spokane, the adopted stray dog who accompanied the delegates went with Helen Todd to New York after the trip. Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage
1026-559: The National American Woman Suffrage Association. They traveled through the west by train while using a number of tactics to increase their visibility and their whistle-stop speeches attracted the attention of reporters. Their campaign resulted in the defeat of 20 Democrats who supported suffrage, much to the dismay of NAWSA. The Congressional Union created the National Woman's Party at a meeting in Chicago in 1916. The party included members of
1080-457: The broad, impressive steps of the Capitol as the delegates marched in with their petitions." The delegates also had five girls precede them, "strewing flowers in their path." At the top of the steps, Belva Ann Lockwood held a Congressional Union banner. As they marched, " The Women's Marseillaise " was played. The Senate officially recessed to receive the delegates. Legislators were surrounded by
1134-591: The city from the air. On May 4, the train stopped in Spokane in the evening and there was a reception in the Davenport Hotel . In Spokane, the group adopted a black, stray dog and named him "Spokie." Another event that took place with the group in Spokane was the planting of a tree in memory of the suffragist May Arkwright Hutton . The train spent several hours in Great Falls, Montana , on May 7. There
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#17328024289121188-525: The city. The delegates were met at the train depot, taken on a trip in the city and gave speeches, ending the first day with a mass meeting. The meeting took place at the Moore Theatre and had a crowd of 1,500 people. The next day, the envoys were guests of the Women's Civic Club, and there were additional meetings. In Seattle, Lucy Burns was treated to an airplane ride where she scattered leaflets over
1242-599: The delegates attended a luncheon which included 1,500 invitees. The Suffrage Special arrived in Salem, Oregon on April 29. In Oregon, a resolution had been passed by both men and women which criticized Congress for not passing an amendment for national women's suffrage. The delegates left with several cases of loganberry juice and continued in the morning of April 30 to Portland, Oregon . The Suffrage Special arrived in Seattle on May 1, spending two days with various events in
1296-457: The eighteen-month campaign saw thousands of women participate and culminated in the arrests of many picketers and the " Night of Terror ". In March 1917, it was decided to merge the Congressional Union and the National Woman's Party . Following the vote, Vernon was selected to be Secretary of the NWP. After President Woodrow Wilson announced the American entry into World War I , a committee
1350-519: The evening of April 11. The Suffrage Special stopped in Kansas City, Missouri , for an hour and a half on April 12. They then went to Topeka, Kansas , where representatives were entertained at a luncheon on April 12. Mabel Vernon met the Suffrage Special at the station. There were around 150 attending the luncheon in Topeka. After the luncheon, women marched into the business district and spoke on
1404-477: The evening, where they were escorted to Pinney Theater for a mass meeting. On May 10, the envoys met with state officials at a morning reception. Governor Moses Alexander promised that Idaho would ratify a national suffrage amendment. The train left at noon for a mass meeting to be held in Pocatello. Ida Smoot was involved in welcoming the Suffrage Special to Salt Lake City on May 11. The group arrived in
1458-440: The event's toastmaster . The suffragists' private train car was "christened" with grape juice before the train pulled out. Around five thousand supporters saw the train off and a brass band played " Onward Christian Soldiers " as they began their journey. The car itself was decorated with colors associated with the suffrage movement: yellow, white and purple. The group arrived in Chicago on April 10. The suffragists had planned
1512-699: The first time in decades. Alice Paul created the Congressional Union (CU) after joining the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) and gaining leadership of its Congressional Committee. The CU was initiated to assist the NAWSA Congressional Committee and its officers were part of that committee. The CU shared the same goal with NAWSA, to gain an amendment to the United States Constitution giving all women
1566-552: The measure before Congress demanding self-government for the women of this country?" At a convention in late 1917, Vernon identified the most significant impacts of the picketing. First of all, they generated consistent publicity and kept the fight for women's suffrage on national headlines. Vernon also noted that the picketing of the Silent Sentinels forced female suffrage into the consciousness of Woodrow Wilson , barring him from ignoring them, writing, "Was it not worth even going to prison for, to have national woman suffrage daily in
1620-469: The meeting. Vernon was a key organizer of the campaign of the Silent Sentinels that began on January 10, 1917. She was responsible for ensuring that there were enough volunteers each day to picket the White House. Vernon and Paul organized themed days for the picket where all of the volunteers were from certain states or from certain professions. Their strategy ensured consistent press coverage and
1674-678: The methods used by suffragettes in Britain, the CU fully blamed the majority party for failure to advance the Federal Suffrage Amendment. The majority party at the time was the Democratic Party, and Democrat Woodrow Wilson was president. Members traveled west and campaigned against Democrats in hopes of impeding their reelection. They even campaigned against Democrats who approved women's suffrage, despite criticism from
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1728-591: The militant methods used by the Women's Social and Political Union in Britain to the CU and its members. These included direct actions, organizing huge demonstrations, and the daily picketing of the White House. The CU had 4,500 members and had raised more than $ 50,000 in funds by 1914. Over time, the efforts of hundreds of members led to their arrest and sometimes imprisonment. The Congressional Union's headquarters were located on F Street in Washington, D.C., near
1782-492: The mind of the President?" Additionally, the picketing kept the female suffrage question in the minds of Congress during war sessions. The Silent Sentinels also served as a symbol of the growing sentiment and unity of the women's suffrage movement. Through protest, it created a unique and unified militant identity for women fighting for political voice. Their appearances in the public and political spheres direct addresses to
1836-545: The morning and were escorted to Hotel Utah . After breakfast at the hotel, they were guests of the First Presidency and entertained by an organ recital at the Tabernacle . They were then escorted by mounted police in a street parade. Meetings were carried on through the day. The next day, a business session was held at Hotel Utah and farewell demonstrations at Pioneer Park followed in the afternoon. On May 14,
1890-561: The name and philosophy from the women's suffrage group created in 1914 by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns..." At the end of June in 1982, the Congressional Union organized a "ritual of mourning" as well as a "celebration of rebirth" for the ERA at the National Archives . This organization later splitered off and a group of women including Johnson formed a new feminist organization known as A Group of Women ." Mabel Vernon Mabel Vernon (September 19, 1883 – September 2, 1975)
1944-420: The president, and motivating sacrifice infused the Silent Sentinels militant identity and ultimately contributed to the success of the 19th Amendment. Vernon was among the first six women who were arrested while picketing the White House, under charges of "obstructing the traffic." They were tried and found guilty on June 26, 1917, and each was ordered to pay a US$ 25 fine or spend three days in jail. All of
1998-507: The right to vote. In the beginning, the CU worked within NAWSA to strengthen the declining Congressional Committee. In March 1913, after realizing the amount of work to be done, the CU became in charge of their own operations and funding but still remained affiliated with NAWSA. In the fall of 1913, Carrie Chapman Catt of NAWSA accused the CU of insubordination and financial irregularities, allegations which she later retracted. The strategies of
2052-402: The route, Vernon acted as an organizing advance woman, preparing dignitaries, press, and women groups in over 100 communities to welcome the tour and sign the petition. According to the Women's Heritage Museum's Newsletter, "The petition demonstrated the spirit, will, and ability of Western women voters to elect or defeat members of a political party," One of the first stops of the petition tour
2106-473: The situation, Vernon interrupted President Woodrow Wilson during a speech he was giving at the dedication of the Labor Temple in Washington on July 4, querying, "Mr. President, if you sincerely desire to forward the interests of all the people, why do you oppose the national enfranchisement of women?" Wilson dismissed the question and when Vernon repeated the question again later, police ordered her to leave
2160-425: The time. "Working Woman," Melinda Scott, was also profiled. Overall, the women were generally well received in the West. Often, when they arrived, their stops were already decorated in purple, white and gold, the suffrage colors. Before the Suffrage Special left Washington, D.C., there was a farewell luncheon with speakers and music held at the headquarters for the Congressional Union. Florence Finch Kelley served as
2214-673: The topic of federal women's suffrage. They also went to Washburn College , where their event in the Pelletier tea room was "packed to capacity." Vernon arranged for the women to meet in Wichita, Kansas , the next day. There was a night meeting in Wichita and on April 14, the Suffrage Special stopped at Newton , Hutchinson , Emporia and Dodge City, Kansas . On April 15, the Suffrage Special arrived in Denver . The women continued to speak on
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2268-586: The topic of national women's suffrage, held luncheons and a mass meeting. The group arrived in Colorado Springs on April 17. They were treated to a sightseeing trip in the mountains and in the evening, spoke at a mass meeting. They also made a stop in Cheyenne, Wyoming . The Suffrage Special arrived in Tucson, Arizona , on April 20. In Tucson, the suffragists were given a tour of the city and spoke at
2322-685: The train stopped for three hours in St. Joseph, Missouri for dinner and a meeting at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. The Suffrage Special returned to Washington, D.C., on May 16, where a "White Luncheon" took place in Union Station . Around 300 women attended the luncheon. A parade was held as the delegates took their petitions to the United States Congress. Three hundred schoolgirls dressed in white "formed aisles up
2376-581: The trip was carried out by Alva Belmont . Ella Reigel and Lucy Burns led the delegation which was planned to consist of 36 women. Twenty-three envoys actually made the trip when the Special left on April 9. They were also known as the "flying squadron" of the Congressional Union. Many of the women involved were considered "famous" and it was a draw to see them speaking live. Abby Scott Baker , Alva Belmont , Harriet Stanton Blatch , Lucy Burns , Florence Bayard Hilles and Inez Milholland were famous at
2430-549: The two organizations were conflicting and NAWSA's leadership felt threatened. In December 1913, the National American Woman Suffrage Association selected a new Congressional Committee and formally cut ties with the Congressional Union. The Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage appealed to young women with a new approach in the fight for women's suffrage, inspired by the British suffragettes. Alice Paul believed women should not have to beg for their rights. Paul introduced some of
2484-533: The women insisted they were innocent and refused to pay the fine. Following the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment , during the 1920s, Vernon supported women candidates for Congress and lobbied on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment . Vernon went to Columbia University where she earned a master's degree in political science in 1924. In 1930, Vernon turned her attention from the women's movement to focus on international relations and peace. She
2538-535: Was Salt Lake City where Vernon, with the help of Elsie Lancaster, another NWP member, laid the groundwork for Alice Paul to organize a Congressional Union branch in Utah . At a June 1916 convention in Chicago, women from states that had granted them the right to vote gathered to form the National Woman's Party . The Democratic Party had adopted a suffrage plank that advocated state's rights to choose suffrage, but continued to block national suffrage. Frustrated with
2592-508: Was a mass meeting in Helena, Montana , and while Elizabeth Selden Rogers was speaking, the lights went out but Rogers continued with her speech. They arrived that afternoon in Butte . In Butte, they visited the city's mines and then had dinner at the Thornton Hotel. Afterwards, they drove through the business district and went on to the city's auditorium for speeches, rallying the women to support
2646-840: Was a proponent of Latin American rights and disarmament . Vernon joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1930. She was director of the Peoples Mandate Committee for Inter-American Peace and Cooperation in the 1940s. She was a member of the Inter-American delegation to the foundation of the United Nations . Beginning in 1951, Vernon lived with her companion Consuelo Reyes-Calderón in Washington, D.C. Reyes-Calderon contributed to Speaker for Suffrage and Petitioner for Peace,
2700-504: Was a year ahead of Alice Paul. Vernon graduated from Swarthmore in 1906. She then became a teacher at Radnor High School in Wayne, Pennsylvania , where she taught Latin and German . Vernon atded the 1912 convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association , where she was an usher. She was the first paid organizer that Alice Paul recruited. Vernon joined Lucy Burns and Paul as part of NAWSA's Congressional Committee to organize
2754-439: Was able to secure an audience with Wilson on the issue of suffrage. Doris Stevens , in her memoir Jailed for Freedom , wrote that the President was moved when Mabel Vernon said "If the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own government is so sacred a cause to foreign people as to constitute the reason for our entering the international war in its defense, will you not, Mr. President, give immediate aid to
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#17328024289122808-563: Was an American suffragist , pacifist, and a national leader in the United States suffrage movement . She was a Quaker and a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association . Vernon was inspired by the methods used by the Women's Social and Political Union in Britain. Vernon was one of the principal members of the Congressional Union for Women Suffrage (CUWS) alongside Olympia Brown , Inez Milholland , Crystal Eastman , Lucy Burns , and Alice Paul , and helped to organize
2862-467: Was an American organization formed in 1913 led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns to campaign for a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women's suffrage . It was inspired by the United Kingdom 's suffragette movement, which Paul and Burns had taken part in. Their continuous campaigning drew attention from congressmen, and in 1914 they were successful in forcing the amendment onto the floor for
2916-408: Was working for NAWSA on a referendum campaign. After Martin got into a debate with Senator Key Pittman , Anna Howard Shaw wrote her an angry letter accusing her of being duped by Vernon and the CU. Late in 1915, Sara Bard Field drove a petition with 500,000 signatures supporting the 19th Amendment across the United States to be presented to President Woodrow Wilson in Washington, D.C. Along
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