Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1903 — HISTORY OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT. [ARTICLE]

HISTORY OF THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.

(Published by request.) The last volume of the“ History of Woman Suffrage” recently issued by Miss Susan B. Anthony and Mrs. Ida Husted Harper answers effectively the demand for accurate information not only on this special subject but on the different phases of what is called “the woman question.” This is a very live issue just now and is especially popular with debating societies of both men and women, but while the magazines and daily papers are full of interesting matter about women the}’ are deficient in the concrete, statisical information which is absolutely essential to an intelligent presentation of this question. The woman suffrage headquarters have been so deluged with requests for arguments and statistics that they have been obliged to announce the financial impossibility of supplying so much literature free of charge. Miss Anthony has almost bankrupted herself in time and money by her determination to furnish the necessary a munition to every one who wants to fire a gun. No amount of tracts and leaflets, however, could supply the information contained in this big volume of 1,140 pages, all so thoroughly indexed that its valuo ns a general reference book is fully assured. The introduction of twenty pages comprises a general re; view of the past and present status of women suffrage, why its success has been 60 long delayed, the reasons for expecting its ultimate triumph, etc. The first chapter covers thoroughly the ground of the contention made by many that women already the right to vote guaranteed them by» the National Constitution of the United States. The debator will rejoice in the array of argument set forth in the succeeding twenty-one chapters which contain not only the eloquent speeches made at the national suffrage conventions by the leading exponents of this cause, but also the famous debate in the United States Senate on amending the constitution so as to enfranchise woman, and the discussion in both Houses of Congress on admitting Wyoming with woman suffrage. The reader gets the views of the opponents as well as the advocate. The politician who attemps to secure any credit for his party in its attitude on this question will not find it in the caustic chapter on the record of national politicial conventions. General interest possibly will center in the chapters on the various States, which contain the laws for women, their educational advantages, the offices they are filling, the amount of suffrage they possess and how

they cot it, and the record of their Legislatures on this subject. The story of the four States where women possess the full franchise is particularly interesting. A valuable chapter is the one on Great Britain and Her Colonies, all of which confer some form of franchise on women. • The part relating to New Zealand and Australia is especially apropos. Club women will enjoy tho chapter on National Orgnniz»itions of women, as about one hundred of these are carefully classified and considered. Those who are “seeking for a sign" as to the effect of woman suffrage in the States where it prevails, will find it in the mass of testimony which has been systematically arranged in the Appendix.

The immense amouut of research and work which have been pat upon this book can only be appreciated by a full examination. It is perhaps the most valuable contribution yet made to the of woman’s enfranchisement. Miss Anthony has published tue book at her own expense and with Do expectation of any financial profit, as the price—three dollars—barely covers the cost of production. It is hoped that it will be very generally placed in libraries

where the publio oan have access to it