Maryland suffrage news., June 13, 1914, Pilgrims' Edition, Page 83, Image 3

About Maryland suffrage news. (Baltimore, Md.) 1912-1920

Image provided by: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                
June 13, 1914.]
TO THE SUFFRAGISTS OF MARYLAND
A Cordial Invitation to Speed the Departing Pilgrims.
The Just Government League of Maryland extends a cordial in
vitation to all suffragists to meet at the Headquarters, 817 N. Charles
St., on Saturday, June 13, at 11 o’clock, where an open-air meeting will
be held. Previous to the start for Garrett county, which will be made
at 11.30 O’CLOCK SHARP, all loyal suffragists who are able to be
present are asked to fall in line and escort the pilgrims to Camden
Station, where they will leave at 12.25 for Cumberland.
“THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE FOUNTAIN PIN
IS THE HAND THAT RULES THE WURLD”
By Mrs. Jessie Hardy Stubbs of the Congressional Union.
When the idea of a pilgrimage from New York to Albany was first
suggested in November, 1912, by Miss Rosalie Jones, it met with several
varieties of opposition from the older suffrage workers, not only of New
York State, but of many other parts of the country. They could not and
would not see the publicity and educational value of this type of campaign.
There was the usual conservative cry of setting the cause back by such an
endeavor. It was new, and the wary were filled with fear that it would
not prove a success. It never occurred to them that a well organized walk
ing trip, with' meetings each night along the line of march, would prove
immensely valuable as propaganda, while the novelty of the enterprise
would command the attention of the newspapers and create publicity of
still greater value. The small, determined and fearless band which started
from New York made good. They were not daunted by any of the argu
ments against the journey, but marched steadily onward, bearing their
petitions to the Governor the 170 miles between New York and the State
Capital. So great was the interest in the pilgrimage that every single
newspaper in New York city sent a special correspondent the entire time
to cover the story for them. It would be very difficult to estimate the
amount of space which the New York papers alone gave to the journey,
while the associated press sent out two stories daily of at least 300 words
each. There was scarcely a newspaper in the United States, both morning
and evening, which did not carry a story about the pilgrimage.
The party hardly left New York when several of the correspondents
began to use the term “hike” to apply to the pilgrimage, and the pilgrims
became “hikers.” This was regrettable at the time, since the mission had
been undertaken in the spirit of those older pilgrims who went on journeys
hoping to obtain a benefit at its conclusion. These pilgrims were carrying
a message to Sulzer, then the Governor of New York State, embodying the
request that he incorporate woman suffrage in his first message to the
Democratic Assembly of the State of New York, and that he do all in his
power to secure the passage of the woman suffrage amendment through
the Legislature that year. All the world knows that the Governor received
the pilgrims; that he extended hospitality of the Governor’s Mansion to
them, and that he and Mrs. Sulzer invited them into their private box at
the inaugural ball and introduced them to the influential politicians there
gathered. No one will ever be able to estimate how much this pilgrimage
had to do with the passage early in the session of the woman suffrage
amendment. However, this was one of the first acts of the New York
Legislature in January, 1913. This pilgrimage to Albany opened the way
for the popularity of this form of suffrage work. It was shown that
thousands of people were reached who had never heard a word about
suffrage in their lives before.
I assisted in the organizing of the hike, and was the speaker of the pil
grimage. Although I lost my voice before we reached Albany, and was
barely able to speak when the pilgrims rehearsed their Canterbury Tales
at the Historical Society, I had spoken almost continuously at nearly every
crossroad. Beside the open-air meetings, at which a megaphone was used,
there were parlor meetings, indoor meetings in halls and parish-houses, at
vaudeville and moving-picture shows, as well as at a banquet, luncheons
and a ball. In this way every man and woman in that Hudson River coun
try whose interest had been aroused was enlightened.
So much for the educational value of such a journey, where personal
contact become a valuable asset. Great as this is, it is for its publicity
value, however, that most of the energy was expended. While many thou
sands of people actually listened to the story of the need of woman’s par
ticipation in government, millions followed the journey through the col
umns of their daily papers in every corner of the United States. If suf
fragists had been compelled to pay for this amount of advertising in the
press it would have represented millions of dollars. It was Mr. Dooley
who said: “The hand that rocks the fountain pin is the hand that rules
HELP THE CAUSE. —Mention the Maryland Suffrage News When Patronizing Our Advertisers.
MARYLAND SUFFRAGE NEWS
the wurld,” and Mr. Dooley knows. It is to keep these fountain pens
rocking that suffrage hikes prove most valuable, and it is to be hoped
that suffrage workers everywhere will increasingly see the value of this
form of activity and will penetrate into the out-of-way counties of their
States, creating sentiment in districts where it is almost impossible to
organize large public meetings. The intimacy of stopping to speak to a
group gathered on a porch here and in front of a store there gives this
form of work an advantage over any other. The interest is unfailing and
the reward sure.
THE ARMY OF THE SEVERN
—'—"—
“General” Latimer leading her army on the memorable trip to Annapolis.
AS OTHERS SEE US
Gleanings From Baltimore Dailies Regarding Annapolis Pilgrimage.
“Hats off to our hikers !
Six lonesome souls amid the dark pitched tents and camped at
Severna Park.
There is no doubting the earnestness of suffragists who would rather
hike than tango.
Marines Salute Marchers.
At the Marine Corps barracks the hikers were given a welcome and
cheers that resulted in a visible straightening of shoulders and gave
added buoyancy to their steps. Outside of the barracks at “attention”
stood a long blue line of marines. A long blast was followed by a grave
salute to the “General,” which the latter answered in true military fash
ion. An enthusiastic interne in the Marine Hospital found an outlet for
pent-up emotion in waving a sheet as the army turned the hospital corner.
Watching for Hikers.
The ancient town by the Severn, however, is, if possible, just a bit
more a-tiptoe over this gathering than usual, because it means a glimpse
at a real bunch of “woman hikers.”
Not only in Annapolis, but all along the route of the new boulevard
from Baltimore, even this soon can be heard the query, “Are they coming
yet?” When the women who are going to plead with the lawmakers to
give them the ballot arrive Tomorrow they will be heartily welcomed.”
Severna Park.
24 Blocks of Harlequin $1 20, Delivered
H. L. SCOTT
Largest Manufacturer in the South 1423-25 AISQUITH ST.
“THE ICE CREAM MAN”
In business for YOUR health
Lowest Estimates on Parties and Entertainments
WOLFE 1288
(Mr, Scott very kindly contributed some of the ice cream sold at the J. G. L.
Festival at Cliffhurst on June 6th.)
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