Volume 14 , Issue 13

Women Suffrage Movement

As the last week of March 2012 is upon us, we continue our history of women and their fight for suffrage and the right to vote! In the Evening Public Ledger, out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated May 1, 1915, in a Night Extra, we find these pictures of suffrage movement who took part in a parade and demonstration. Those pictured on the back page were: MME. Aino Malmberg, visitor from Finland; Miss Bertha Sapouits, active Stump Speaker; Mrs. Edward Biddle, PA. Chairman Woman's Peace party; Uncle Sam Group in Sailor costume; Mrs. medial McCormick, visitor from Chicago; Mrs. John c. Hirst, one of the Philadelphia contingent; Mrs. W. Albert Wood, chief marshal; Mrs. Geo. A. Piersol, active Phila. Worker; Caroline Katzenstein, leader of uncle Sam's Group; Mrs. Paul Huttinger, marshal of Equal Franchise Society; Mrs. Frank Roessing, State president.

On the front page were the headlines: Women In Mighty Pagesant Give Splendid Impulse To the Cause of Suffrage. It goes on to read, "With Flying Banners and to the strains of martial mMusic more than 10,000 Champions of the right to Vote march through the city's streets in triumphant array."

It was reported as a most important demonstration of the kind ever attempted in Philadelphia that won thousands of converts. Spectacle a vivid proof of earnestness. Men proudly joined the ranks and mass meetings followed the parade.

it was reported as a stirring pageant that had ever been held in a city famous for its parades than this one staged by the women in May of 1915. It made a profound impression by a body of citizens interested in high purpose. The cause of suffrage had gone forward 100 per cent and was the consensus of opinion of the though ands who stood along the line of march the afternoon of May 1, 1915, at 3 o'clock, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when Mrs. William Albert Wood, the grand marshal, gave the signal for the eventful procession to move.

It was like a modern Joan of Arc, accoutered, not in a militant suit of mail, but in immaculate white typifying the purity of suffrage ideals, she took her place in the rear of Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, president of the National American suffrage Assoication, and Mrs. Medill McCormick, leaders of the pageant. Far in the van a mounted trumpeter announced in shrill blasts the coming of the women. A dozen bands took their cue from this. Thousands of pennants and banners were raised in the air.

As the parade began to move, what seemed a pandemonium at 2 o'clock before the mobilization got under way now resolved itself into a series of ordered battalions. Division followed division with military precision and the thousands who had lined up on the curbstones, in windows and on the tops of buildings burst into an involuntary cheer of enthusiasm.

Many who came to scoff remained to pray. many women also, who influenced by "anti" families or friends, had decided to stay out of the parade, were drawn irresistible into the ranks at the last minute, the consequence being that hundreds of women who had come as onlookers took their places in the rear unable to withstand the example set them. They marched up 7th street with not a hitch marring the regularity of their going, old women and young ones, rich and poor keeping step tot he rousing music of the bands.   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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