Old Missoula

No Joke – Equal Suffrage at U of M in 1912

College Students For Equality

Equal Suffrage Club Organized At The University of Montana

Only one incident marred the otherwise complete success which attended the first meeting of the University Equal Suffrage club yesterday afternoon, and that incident occurred before the meeting had really begun, and was soon forgotten in the enthusiasm which followed. While the audience, composed for the most part of women, was waiting for the meeting to open, an adventurous soul opened a window, let in some harmless insect and shouted, “Look out for the mouse!” The commotion which followed was nearly disastrous, but the militant element prevailed and order was before long restored.

But, seriously, the meeting was a splendid success. The call for suffrage enthusiasts, posted on the bulletin board several days ago, caused a lot of amusement on the campus and most people were inclined to regard the whole affair as a joke. When the time for the meeting came, however, there were suffragists, men and women, in plenty and they acted seriously and thoroughly, planning a state-wide campaign for equal suffrage, which will certainly have a powerful effect. Too much credit cannot be given to Miss Grace Rankin, who worked hard to organize the club and whose efforts were recognized by the members of the organization when they elected her president.

Miss Rankin acted as temporary chairman and called upon President Duniway for an expression on the subject of equal suffrage, as soon as the meeting had come to order. President Duniway spoke briefly and to the point.

Duniway Speaks.

“I am glad to see that there is enough interest in this question among the students in the university to warrant the organization of a suffrage club,” he said. “It merely bears out the assertion of that man who stands for so much that is sane and advanced in American life, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who said, “The whole trouble with this woman’s suffrage business began when girls were first taught their A. B. C.’s.’ In most things, I think, you will find that the university people are conservative, although their position makes them radical upon some questions. University people are apt to hesitate about doing things that are not quite fashionable. Woman’s suffrage is looked upon as somewhat dubious by most college people and as a rule it is easier to carry on suffrage work among working women, whose interests would clearly be benefited did they have the franchise. But, things are changing. A few years ago women who believed in equal suffrage were seldom found in gatherings of educated people, and those who did express their beliefs were apt to be a bit apologetic for them. Now it is just the other way; it is the women who are opposed to the suffrage movement who are apologetic for their convictions.

Only One Side.

“I have always believed that woman has as much a right to vote as man. I have never been able to see anything in the other side. My mother, and my father, too, always taught me that woman was entitled to equal rights with man. To my mind, every argument that can be advanced against woman’s suffrage is equally applicable to the right of man to vote.

“Six states have already granted full suffrage to women and Oregon and Wisconsin are to vote on the question this year. I don’t know anything about the situation in Wisconsin, but in Oregon every indication points toward the passage of the suffrage bill. So, you see, it has become a big question. It can’t be laughed down any longer. It has become almost inevitable. If it is true that it is endangering our civilization and our domestic life it must be stopped at once, for it is rapidly passing beyond control.

“I hope that you will see your way clear to form a club and that you will make it a good one. A university suffrage club will have a tremendous influence and will be of great help to the cause.”

Miss Stewart.

Miss Mary Stewart, dean of women, was then called upon.

“I cannot say with Dr. Dunniway that I have always believed in woman’s suffrage. At 16 I was a violent anti-suffragist. I didn’t think it was nice for women to vote. And that is the trouble with a lot of people. They aren’t quite sure that it is nice to want to vote. But things are different here.

“There is no better place to form a suffrage club than in college, especially in a co-educational institution. Here men and women work together in everything and without a question. There is no thought of inequality. The same situation prevails among the working classes. Men and women work together under the same conditions, often doing the same work, so that they see no reason why there should not be absolute equality of political rights.

Inform Yourselves.

“All that the opponents of woman’s suffrage need do is inform themselves. There is a sort of prejudice against woman’s suffrage everywhere. It is the result of habit, of long usage. It takes some courage to start something new, for we are all rather hidebound. But, if you are in doubt, inform yourselves before you declare for or against suffrage; then you will be sure of your stand.

“The ballot is not of great importance to woman as a ballot. Its importance lies in the fact that it is a sign of citizenship, of the right to work out one’s destiny as a human being in a world of human beings. Until this right is recognized the world will not be right for either men or women.

“Women need the ballot. The ballot needs women. The whole field of economic problems, speaking broadly, is nothing more or less than a call for extensive housekeeping. Women have always done housekeeping on a small scale; they will be capable of doing it on a larger. National politics call for national housekeeping, and to have it properly done women should be consulted. Undoubtedly, there are many things which men understand more thoroughly than women, but possibly there are things that women know more about. At any rate, the woman’s point of view would be of value.

“Emperor William of Germany has declared against woman’s suffrage, but then William still believes in the divine right of kings, and, in fact, the anti-suffragist idea is but the last vestige of the divine rights theory. There are some men who honestly believe that woman is inferior to man; that man is the greater by divine decree; that it is unsafe to intrust a woman with the great economic problems. This is the last stage of the struggle of classes for political equality. After centuries of struggle all men have won equal political rights; women are the last class to win them. This is but one phase of the democratic movement which is sweeping over the whole civilized world.

“Finally, let me urge you to inform yourselves on the question. Find out where you stand and then express your opinions.”

After the two addresses the organization of the club was perfected. Miss Grace Rankin was elected president; D. D. Richards, vice president; Miss Mary Stewart, corresponding secretary, and Wayne Johnson, secretary-treasurer.

 

The above article appeared in The Missoulian on March 28, 1912.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/349056984

 

An interesting study of suffrage in Montana can be found in “THE WINNING OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MONTANA,” a thesis by Doris Buck Ward – Link below:

https://scholarworks.montana.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1/6299/31762100209335.pdf?sequence=1