The
Omaha
Sunday
PART TWO
SOCIETY
PAGIT ONE TO TEN
PART TWO
EDITORIAL
PAGES ON TO TEN
VOL. XliW NO. 6.
OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING. JULY 2G, 1914.
SI NO LIS COPY FIVE CENTS.
ror and
S o m e Humors - of- fhe
-Nebraska Campaign
TTrs.T.cT
IT
BY ELTiA FLEISHMAN.
O be for suffrage or not to bo?
That la the question which rele
gated Ed P. Smith to the Ananias
club ho far as local BuffraglstB are
concerned, oven though his wife is a
niomber of the Equal Franchise so
ciety. No longer do fond mammas point out tne
president of the United States for thoir youthful
offspring to omulato, but instead, John L. Ken
nedy, John A. Illne, Halleck Rose and Edgar Scott
have been placed upon pedestals as the bright and
shining example of what all men should be. Much
printer's ink also has been wasted by this lively
topic for discussion, 'which is carried on ovor the
breakfast tabo, during business hours, over tea
cups and between numbers on dance programs.
Small mention will be made of the "No-vote,
no-kiss" pact which suffragist leaders in the oast
nro striving to introduce betweon sweethearts, so
it is said, but that the mere mention of the word
"suffrage" causes the office boy to giggle all ovor,
makes "mere men" reporters hoot, gives S. Arion
Lewis the tantrums and starts Mrs. Georgo Covell
to spouting oratory at the rate of sixty miles .an
hour, this I do know.
i Division in lligh Circles
Announcement was made recently that whereas
Mrs. 'William H. Taft, wlfo of the ex-presldent,
had declared herself an antl-suffragist, her
daughter, Helen, had joined the suffrage society
at Bryn Mawr where she has been attending school.
On the jheels of this announcement the statement
was make that President Wilson's daughters hold
opposing views on the question of suffrage. While
Margaret Wilson and Jessie Wilson Sayre .aro in
favor of' woman suffrage, it is said that Eleanor
Wilson McAdoo is Just as much opposed to it.
Omaha has many families wherein the same
condition exists each member of the family dem
onstrating: the great American characteristic of
having his or her own opinion and expressing it.
Many interesting features are noted, such as ar
dent suffragists, who were once just as strong
antis, antis who were once strong for "Votes for
Women," some who believe in limited suffrage for
both men' and women husbands in favor of grant
ing the franchise while their wives oppose it and
vice versa;
1 Organizations Aro Split
Organizations 'also share in the division, of opin
ion. The General Federation of Women's cluba
was divided oh the question for twenty years,
until this year1, when the suffrage movoment wns
oudorsedr Lochlly the Vassar club, which recently
Joined the suffrage societies in a luncheon for Dr.
Katherlno Befment Davis furnishes a striking ex
ample. The president, Mrs. W, C. Shannon, Miss
.May Copelamland several more members have
strongly upheld tho antlB in the councils of the so
ciety while Mrs. Frank Crawford ono of tho most
actlvo members of the organization, Miss Carollnse
Congdon and others aro suffragists. To maintain
tho equlllbrlm of tho club tho majority members
led by Mrs. Warren Blackwell, stand on neutral
ground.
An amusing story is told by tho librarians at tho
public library. A sheet of paper divided Into
two columns, ono of the suffrage and the other
opposed to It, was left on ono of tho desks. Tho
first librarian who spied it, put hor name down
on tho suffrago side, tho next ono followed BUlt,
until all had reglstfcred their opinion. Thon it
was found that tho suffragists numbered ono more
than tho antis. Not to be outdone In this fashion,
tho .antis' called upon the page of tho library and
ho in manly fashion signed his namo as opposed
to suffrago thus striking an equal balance
Onco Wero For, Now Against
Mr. William Wallace and his family wero pio
neers in the suffrago ranks over twenty years ago.
Tho Wallaces have always been identified with
the forward movement for women, a great aunt
of the late Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Bannister, together
with Miss Mary Lyon, having been tho founders
of Mount Holyoke school for women about 100
years ago. Ab a result of their exporloncea In
this early work for suffrage, the Wallaces changed
their mind and now Miss Janet Monroe Wallace,
who 1b Instructor in economics and civics at tho
Omaha High school, is ono of tho executive com
mittee of tho anti-suffrage socloty.
Mrs. Helen Arlon LewiB 1b anothor actlvo worker
In the cause who changed hor mind as a result
of hor experiences in suffrage campaigns and her
observations in states where suffrago has been
granted to women, in several of which states sho
has resided.
MIbb Ophelia Haydon and Miss Clairo Heleno
Woodward, who were formerly Interested in tho
suffrage causo together with Mrs. Adolph Storz,
an antl, wero in Washington at tho Inauguration
of President Wilson and witnessed tho famous
suffrage parade. Tho developed appearance of
the marchers who wero routed in disorder from
the parado, did not mako a hit with tho Omaha
young women and now they favor tho antl-suf-fragiBta.
Treatment for on Ak-Sor-Ilcn Governor
Mrs. Charles D. Beaton is keen for suffrage
and Mr. Beaton, who is an Ak-Sar-Bon governor,
was rathor Inclined to favor suffrage until he was
placed next to Miss Minnlo Bronson at tho Com
mercial club luncheon given in her honor. MIbb
Bronson Informed him that suffrage would lead
to socialism which statement led him to doubt
tho wisdom of his original' stand. Mrs. Beaton
suggests that arrangements be made to soat him
next to Dr. Katherlno Bcnicnt Davis at the next
luncheon.
Mrs. L. F. Crofoot'B sympathies were enlisted
on tho side of suffrage by Miss Gertrude O'Reilly's
recital of tho conditions in Ireland, but as the re
sult of her observations on a trip to Boston dur
ing tho recent Massachussots campaign, Mrs. Cro
foot joined tho anti-suffrage society here and la
one of ita moat active membors. She is a member
of the executive committee and accompanied Mrs.
J. M. Crumpacker to Fremont to assist in tho or
ganization of a branch socloty there.
Mr. Edgar Scott, who is associated' with Mr. Cro
foot in the law firm of Crofoot & Scott Is strong
for suffrage and was in chargo of the suffrage
meeting which Prof. F. M. Fling of tho University
of Nebraska addressed at the American theater.
Mrs. Scott and her sister, Miss Carrie Dodge, who
are prominent members of tho Fine Arts society,
nro also ardent suffragists but Mrs. N. P. Dodge,
Jr., is a member of tho anti-suffrage society hav
ing becomo interested In the movement through
her mother, who is a leader in anti-suffrage ac
tivities in Boston. Her sister Mrs. Lyman, who
visited her recently, 1b a member of the executive
f . mm i . ill iimaminww ir
Urs.J.W.GxiFfilh ms.WA.3mi.6i.
committoo of, the- Massachusetts anti-suffrage
socloty.
Ills Wlfo's Example
Ono of tho best Known morchant princes in
Omaha Is quoted as having said that ho opposod
woman's voting because his wife is homo ao sol
dom, as It is. "Half of her time is takon up
with her social duties and tho rest of tho time sho
is in Chicago, so I don't see whon aho will have
tlmo to vote" ho said. His wife, when quostlonod,
said sho was neutral.
Mr. Howard Baldrlgo former candldato for
congressman 1b ono who foels that If tho majority
of women wish to vote and can do good with tho
ballot, thoy should bo pormltted to do so, while
Mrs. Baldrlge's namo was mentioned qulto prom
inently at tho incoptlon of tho local antl-suffrago
society as ono who was interested in it.
Dean James A. Tancock of Trinity cathedral 1b
strongly opposod to votes for women, but Mrs.
Tancock, although not allied with any suffrago
society, is just as strongly a aympathlzor of tho
causo.
Mrs, John N. Baldwin, was president of tho
Equal Franchlso socloty for a torm, but hor daugh
ter, Mrs. Arthur Gulou, bollovos that tho right to
vote Bhould be restricted for both mon and women
and that only those who aro fitted to wield tho
ballot should bo permitted to do bo.
Mr. Lloyd Osborne, whoso wlfo Is a BUffraglst
and a prominent member of tho Fine Arts so
ciety, denied very emphatically a rumor to tho
effect that ho was an antl. "I believe In giving
tho women a chanco ovory tlmo," ho said, but
concluded with tho statement. "Thero are too
many Irresponsible voters now."
Sisters Aro Divided
Mrs. Frank J. Hoel 1b a member of tho exoc
utlve committoo of the antl-suffrago society, while
hor slstor, Miss Katherlno Morse, of the Omaha
High school, and her daughter, Miss Faith Loo
Hoel, are suffragists.
Miss Carolino Congdon, member of the Vassar
club, is an enthusiastic suffragist, but her sister,
Mrfl. Arthur Rogers, Is on tho opposite Bldo of
the fence.
Mr. David Cole 1b ono who bollovos that if
women want to vote they ought to havo It, but
not so Mrs. Cole. Sho Is just as strongly op
posed to It.
Mr. Harley Moorhead, election commissioner,
will not commit himself for fear of being mis
construed, but his wlfo is a firm believer in suf
frage. "It is part of tho evolution of woman,"
sho said.
Mrs. Willard Hosford, formerly Miss Mary Loo
McShane, and Mrs. Glenn Wharton, formerly MIs3
Ada Kirkendall, havo been life-long friends and
schoolmates, but the question of enfranchising
women is ono in which they do not agree. Mrs.
Wharton is an antl, while Mrs. Hosford and Mrs.
John A. McShano are most actlvo in tho Equal
Franchise society. Mr. McShano, howovor, dooa
not share the views of his wlfo and daughter.
Ono Family United
Dr. and Mrs. H. Gifford are numbered among
tho sympathizers with tho causo, aa is their
Sirs. FtcuzlIl S. Hoel
daughter, Miss Ann. Indood( Miss Ann has boon
known to ubo her iufltionco among hor school
friends and Is Bald to havo attomptod to convert
Bovornl antlB to hor way of thinking.
Mrs. John C. French thinks sho has nil tho
rights now that aho can manage. "If I am any
thing, I am an antl," sho said, yot Mrs. French has
a Blstor In Now York, Miss Euland, who has been
Identified with tho Biiffrago niovomont in tho east
Mrs. Frederick H. DavlB 1b a members of tho
Equal Franchlso socloty, but hor daughters, Eliza
beth and Menle and Mrs. Walter Roborts, aro not
Interested and indood nro said to bo antia. Mr.
Davis la opposed to tho movement.
Miss Daisy Doano 1b a stnto Biiffrago officer and
hor mother Mrs. Georgo A. Doano Is a suffragist
but Mrs. Charles B. Kollor, Misa'Doane'B sister haa
taken no part In tho movoment.
The husband of a woman very proralnont In tho
Fino Arts society was said to opposo the onward
march of the fomlulsts. When questioned .about
It, hla wlfo said, "My husband la out of the city,
but though I dm very much a auffraglBt, oven bo,
I do not resorvo tho right to epoak for hlra."
Gorrlt Fort was perslstontly quoted ub bolng in
favor of suffrage, but his namo recently appeared
on tho manifesto of tho mon opposed. Mrs. Fort Is
on tho nnti-suffraglsta' executive board.
When tho Antis Started
Campaigning for suffrago has been going on in
Nobroskd for ovor twenty years, but antl-auffrago
activity as an organizod movement is very recent.
It dates back to Fobruary of thin yoar with tho ad
vent of the two antl-suffrago loaders Mrs. Arthur
Dodge, president of tho National Socloty Opposed
to Woman Suffrago, and Miss Minnlo Bronson, na
tional socrotary. Mrs. Arthur Crittenden Smith
wns tho first ono to sponsor their work. Mrs.
Smith mot Mrs. Dodgo last yoar whon sho was
traveling in tho oast and at that time bocamo in
terested in tho question. Through thoir initial ef
forts, a number of Omaha women prominent In
soclnl, educational, art and philanthropic circles of
tho community wore enlisted In tho opposition
movement. Many of thorn too aro Daughters of
tho American Revolution and other patrlotio
aoclotles, who feel that the granting of suffrago to
women would be a monace to the country.
Business of tho local antl-nuffrago society la
transacted bnn exocutivp committee of fifteen
members, but an official list of momborshlp has
novor been divulged bocauso of tho business and
political Interests of their husbands. Mrs. Edward
Porter. Peck ia chairman of tho board, othor rep
resentatives of tho socloty being Mosdamos Henry
W. Yatos, T. J. Mnckny, John' C. Cowln, John L.
Wobster, F. N. Connor, L. F. Crofoot, Gorrlt Fort,
W. II. Koonlg. Frank J. Hool, Helon Arlon Lewis,
William Archibald Smith, Arthur Crittenden
Smith, John W. Griffith and Miss Janot Monroo
Wallace.
German Women Indifferent to Cause
At a recent meeting of thiB committee, Mrs.
Helen Arlon Lewis, who favors a moro active cam
paign than tho mero distribution of Utoraturo, was
uuthorlzed to begin the work of organizing other
anti-BUffrage societies, so that all circles of women
might bo reached. To this end, a preliminary
meeting was hold at tho Gorman Homo, the antis
having Burmlsed that tho "Deutsche Dainen" were
more Intorosted in thoir kaffee klatchea, kuchon
and pretzels than thoy wero In votes for women.
As yet, no organization has boon effected.
Mrs. J. W. Crumpacker ia tho representative
of tho national society here and has been working
throughout tho. state In an endeavor to affiliate
other organizations with the oso in' Omaha. Sho
has made a number of trips to Lincoln, Fremont,
Hustings, Grand Island and Kearney and othor
points and with tho assistance of the parent so
ciety, tho Omaha branch, thinks that permanent
organizations will be effected in these places.
Tho antl-suffrngists maintain that their cam
paign will only be an oducational ouo. Literature
is bolng placod in tho hands of all those that they
think are Intorosted. An attempt will also bo made
to enlist tho services of clergymen all over tho
state for tho women feel that much good may bo
accomplished through these channols. Among tho
well known speakers that tho organizations hopes
to bring to Omaha in the near future are Miss
Minnio Bronson, Miss Marjory Dorman and Miss
Markson of tho Wage Earners' leaguo of New STork
City,
A
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