The History of Woman Suffrage Volume IV Part 124

CHAPTER LXII.

RHODE ISLAND.[422]

Rhode Island was one of the pioneer States to form a woman suffrage a.s.sociation. On Dec. 11, 1868, in answer to a call signed by a large number of its most distinguished men and women, a successful meeting was held in Roger Williams Hall, Providence, and Mrs. Paulina Wright Davis was elected president of the new organization.[423] Many series of conventions in different parts of the State were held between 1870 and 1884, at which the officers and special speakers presented pet.i.tions for signatures and prepared for legislative appeals.

In 1884, by unanimous vote of the a.s.sembly, the State House was granted for the first time for a woman suffrage convention. Four sessions were held in the Hall of the House of Representatives, and Frederick Dougla.s.s, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone, Henry B. Blackwell, William Lloyd Garrison, Mary F. Eastman and others addressed great throngs of people who filled the seats, occupied all the standing room and overflowed into the lobbies.

Up to the present date this a.s.sociation has held an annual convention in October, a special May Festival with social features in the spring, and from one to four meetings each intervening month. These have been rendered attractive by papers and addresses from the members and by public speakers of ability from different parts of the United States and from other lands. In addition to this active propaganda special organizers have been secured from time to time to canva.s.s the State and win intelligent support for the cause.

The a.s.sociation has had but three presidents--Paulina Wright Davis for the first two years, Elizabeth Buffum Chace from 1870 until her death in 1899, aged ninety-two, and Ardelia C. Dewing, now serving. When Mrs. Chace was unable longer to be actively the leader, Anna Garlin Spencer, who returned in 1889 to reside in Rhode Island, as first vice-president acted for her about seven years and Mrs. Dewing for the remainder of the time. Mrs. Davis was an exquisite personality with soul ever facing the light; Mrs. Chace, a woman of granite strength and stability of character, with a keen mind always bent upon the reason and the right of things, and with a single-hearted devotion to the great principles of life.[424]

The vice-presidents of the a.s.sociation number "honorable names not a few."[425] Among them was the Rev. Frederick A. Hinckley, who during the eleven years of his ministry in Providence, 1878-1889, acted as the first vice-president and did the greatest possible service to the a.s.sociation in all ways, ever championing the principle of equality of rights. The secretaries of the a.s.sociation always have been among the leaders in the movement. At first Rhoda Anna Fairbanks (Peckham) was the single officer in that capacity. In 1872 Anna C. Garlin (Spencer) was added as corresponding secretary but resigned in 1878 when her marriage required her removal from the State.[426] Mrs. Ellen M.

Bolles served from 1891 to 1900 when Mrs. Annie M. Griffin was elected. There have been but three treasurers--Marcus T. Janes, Mrs.

Susan B. P. Martin and Mrs. Mary K. Wood.[427] The chairman of the Executive Committee has always shared the heaviest burdens. Mrs.

Chace was the first chairman. Mrs. S. E. H. Doyle succeeded her and continued in the office until her death in 1890. Mrs. Anna E. Aldrich then served to the end of her life in 1898. The a.s.sociation has done a great deal of active work through its organizers, the brilliant and versatile Elizabeth Kittridge Churchill, Mrs. Margaret M. Campbell, Mrs. Louise M. Tyler, and others. Mrs. Ellen M. Bolles, from 1890 to 1898, acted as organizer as well as secretary.

The State Society affiliated with the New England Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation from the first; with the American in 1870 and with the National-American in 1891. It was incorporated in 1892 and has been the recipient of legacies from James Eddy, Mrs. Rachel Fry, Mrs. Sarah Wilbour, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Chace and others. It raised and expended for the woman suffrage campaign of 1887 more than $5,000 and has had some paid worker in the field during most of the years.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION: From the first year of its existence, 1869, the State a.s.sociation pet.i.tioned the Legislature for an amendment to the const.i.tution abolis.h.i.+ng s.e.x as a condition of suffrage, and hearings were held before many committees.

In 1885, through the influence of Representative Edward L. Freeman, a bill for such an amendment actually pa.s.sed both Houses, but failed through some technicality.

In 1886 it pa.s.sed both Houses again by the const.i.tutional majority of two-thirds. It was necessary that it should pa.s.s two successive Legislatures, and the vote in 1887 was, Senate, 28 ayes, 8 noes; House, 57 ayes, 5 noes. The amendment having been published and read at the annual town and ward meetings was then submitted to the voters.

It was as follows: "Women shall have the right to vote in the election of all civil officers and on all questions in all legal town, district or ward meetings, subject to the same qualifications, limitations and conditions as men."

The story of this campaign can be compressed into a few sentences, but it was a great struggle in which heroic qualities were displayed and was led by the woman whose life has meant so much for Rhode Island, Mrs. Elizabeth Buffum Chace, who had as her able lieutenant the Rev.

Frederick A. Hinckley, and as her body-guard all the faithful leaders of the suffrage cause in the State and helpers from other States.[428] Headquarters were established immediately in the business center of Providence. These rooms were opened each morning before nine o'clock and kept open until ten at night throughout the contest. The campaign lasted twenty-nine days, during which ninety-two public meetings were held, some in parlors but most in halls, vestries and churches. Miss Cora Scott Pond came at once into the State to organize the larger public meetings and Miss Sarah J. Eddy and Mrs. C. P.

Norton arranged for parlor meetings. The regular speakers were Henry B. Blackwell, William Lloyd Garrison, the Revs. C. B. Pitblado, Louis A. Banks, Frederick A. Hinckley, Ada C. Bowles; Mesdames Mary A.

Livermore, J. Ellen Foster, Zerelda G. Wallace, Julia Ward Howe, Katherine Lente Stevenson, E. S. Burlingame, Adelaide A. Claflin; Miss Mary F. Eastman and Miss Huldah B. Loud.[429] Miss Susan B. Anthony was invited to make the closing speech of the campaign but declined as she considered the situation hopeless.

The cities and towns were as thoroughly canva.s.sed by these speakers as the short time permitted. A special paper, _The Amendment_, was edited by Mrs. Lillie B. Chace Wyman, a.s.sisted by Miss Kate Austin and Col.

J. C. Wyman; the first number, issued March 16, an edition of 20,000, and the second, March 28, an edition of 40,000. They contained extracts from able articles on suffrage by leading men and women, letters from Rhode Island citizens approving the proposed amendment, and answers to the usual objections.

The princ.i.p.al newspapers of Providence, the _Journal_ and the _Telegram_, both led the opposition to the amendment, the former admitting in an editorial, published March 10, "the theoretic justice of the proposed amendment to the const.i.tution conferring suffrage upon women," but hoping it would be rejected because "whatever may be said for it, the measure has the fatal defect of being premature and impolitic." The opposition of the _Telegram_ was more aggressive and even of a scurrilous type. To offset this hostility if possible the suffrage a.s.sociation hired a column of s.p.a.ce in the _Journal_ and half a column in the _Telegram_ and kept this daily filled with suffrage arguments; toward the end of the campaign securing s.p.a.ce also in the _Daily Republican_. The papers of the State generally were opposed to the measure, but the Woonsocket _Daily Reporter_, Newport _Daily News_, Hope Valley _Sentinel-Advertiser_, Pawtuxet Valley _Gleaner_, Providence _People_, Bristol _Phenix_, Central Falls _Visitor_ and a few others gave effective a.s.sistance. The a.s.sociation distributed about 39,000 packages of literature to the voters.

In the Providence _Journal_ of April 4 the names of over ninety prominent voters were signed to this announcement: "We, the undersigned, being opposed to the adoption of the proposed Woman Suffrage Amendment to the Const.i.tution, respectfully urge all citizens (!) to vote against it at the coming election."

The next day the _Journal_ contained in the s.p.a.ce paid for by the a.s.sociation the signatures of about the same number of equally prominent men appended to this statement: "We favor the pa.s.sage of the Woman Suffrage Amendment which has been submitted to the voters of Rhode Island for action at the coming election." The same issue contained a list of many of the most distinguished men and women in this and other countries, beginning with Phillips Brooks and Clara Barton, and headed, "Some Other People of Weight Who Have Indorsed Woman Suffrage. Match This if You Can."

The election was held April 6, 1887, and at the sixty-two polling places men and women were on hand to urge the electors to vote for the amendment. The result was 6,889 ayes, 21,957 noes--the largest defeat woman suffrage ever received.

Many of the ablest lawyers having decided that no extension of franchise, not even a school vote, could be secured in Rhode Island through the Legislature (except possibly Presidential Suffrage) and the amendment to the const.i.tution having been defeated by so heavy a vote, it was deemed best not to ask for another submission of the question for a term of years. Therefore other matters, involving legal equality of the s.e.xes, formed for a while the chief subjects for legislative work.

In 1892 a special appeal was made to the General a.s.sembly to confer upon women by statute the right to vote for presidential electors.

Three hearings were had before the House committee but the bill was not reported.

In 1895 a hearing, managed by Mrs. Jeanette S. French, was granted by the Senate committee. A number of able women of the State made addresses and the committee reported unanimously in favor of submitting again an amendment for the Full Suffrage. It was too late, however, for further action and was referred to the May session. At that time it pa.s.sed the Senate but was lost in the House by a small majority.

In 1897 the Governor was empowered by the General a.s.sembly to appoint a commission to revise the State const.i.tution. This was deemed by many as opposed to the spirit of the basic law of the Commonwealth, in subst.i.tuting a small appointive body for the Const.i.tutional Convention of Electors previously considered necessary to revise the fundamental law of the State, but the commission was appointed. The Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation early presented a claim for a hearing which was granted for May 11. The Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer conducted it and introduced the other speakers who were all citizens of the State and of influence in their communities.[430] After interviews were held with the commission, the a.s.sociation adopted resolutions which were afterwards incorporated in a letter and read by Mrs. Bolles to the Committee on Revision. It said in part:

We are informed that you consider it inadvisable to incorporate a suffrage amendment in the revised const.i.tution lest it endanger the acceptance of other proposed and necessary changes. This view may be correct, but surely it need not prevent you from advising a provision by which the Legislature would be empowered to extend suffrage to women at its discretion, and this we greatly desire.

A conservative measure of this nature could not call out a large amount of antagonism from the voters, while it would be a great help to women in their efforts to obtain a voice in such matters of public concern as are of vital importance to their interests.

The const.i.tution of Rhode Island is far behind the spirit of the age in its treatment of women, as only one other State makes it equally difficult for them to obtain even the simplest form of political rights. In revising the fundamental law this fact ought not to be overlooked and the instrument should be so constructed as to bring it up to date in this respect.

These appeals were not responded to favorably by the Commission, although great courtesy and willingness to consider the subject were manifested, and a large minority vote was given in the Commission itself to empower the Legislature to grant suffrage at discretion by statute. The proposed revision was submitted to the electors and during the campaign preceding their vote the a.s.sociation pa.s.sed the following resolution at its annual meeting of Oct. 20, 1898: "Resolved, That we consider the proposed const.i.tution unworthy the intelligence and civilization of the age, for these reasons: First, It does not give suffrage to women citizens and makes the obtaining of an amendment for this purpose even more difficult than it is at present by requiring a larger legislative majority to submit any question to the voters. Second, It restricts the suffrage of men by a property qualification."

The revised const.i.tution was voted down by a large majority.

LAWS: The Suffrage a.s.sociation from its first existence closely watched legislation affecting women and children, and often appeared by representative speakers before committees engaged in framing changes in such laws; but in 1892 and '93 a special effort was made to secure full legal equality for men and women. Miss Mary A. Greene, a Rhode Island lawyer, educated for and admitted to the bar in Ma.s.sachusetts, was engaged to prepare a full statement of the existing laws relating to women and children and to draw up a code for suggestion to the Legislature which should embody the exact justice for which the a.s.sociation stood. This step was taken at that time because the Legislature had just appointed a Committee of Codification to consider the statutes bearing on domestic relations, contract powers, etc. The suggestions of the a.s.sociation, as prepared by Miss Greene, were not acted upon in any formal way, still less with completeness, but the changes made in the interest of equal rights for women were marked and the a.s.sociation had a distinct share in them.

The property laws for women are now satisfactory except that of inheritance which is as follows:

Dower and curtesy both obtain. If the husband die without a will, leaving children, the widow is ent.i.tled to the life use of one-third of the real estate, and to one-third of the personal property absolutely, the remainder going to them. If there are no children or descendants she takes one-half of the personal property and as much of the real estate for life as is not required to pay the husband's debts. The other half of the personal property goes to the husband's relatives and, after her death, all of the real estate. The widower is ent.i.tled to a life use of all the wife's real estate if there has been issue born alive. If she die without a will he may take the whole of her personal property without administration or accountability to the children or to her kindred. The widow and minor children are ent.i.tled to certain articles of apparel, furniture and household supplies and to six months' support out of the estate. The widow has the prior right as administrator.

The wife may dispose of her personal and real property by will, but can not impair the husband's curtesy, or the life use of all her real estate. The husband may do the same subject to the wife's dower, or life use of one-third of the real estate.

If any person having neither wife nor children die without a will "the property shall go to the father of such person if there be a father, if not, then to the mother, brothers and sisters."

All the property of a married woman, whether acquired before or after marriage, is absolutely secured to her sole and separate use, free from liability for her husband's debts. Personal and real estate may be conveyed by her as if unmarried, the latter subject to the husband's curtesy. Her husband must present an order from her to collect the rents and profits.

A married woman may make contracts, sue and be sued, and carry on any trade or business, and her earnings are her sole and separate property. She can not, however, enter into business partners.h.i.+p with her husband.

Neither husband nor wife is liable for the torts of the other. The wife's property is liable for her debts or torts.

A married woman may act as executor, administrator or guardian if appointed to those offices by will, but she can not be appointed to them by the court except to the guardians.h.i.+p of children.[431]

In case of divorce for fault of the husband the wife may have dower as if he were dead. If alimony be claimed the dower is waived. If the divorce is for the fault of the wife, the husband, if ent.i.tled to curtesy, shall have a life estate in the lands of the wife, subject to such allowance to her, chargeable on the life estate, as the court may deem proper. In case of separation only, the pet.i.tioner may be a.s.signed a separate maintenance out of the property of the husband or wife as the case may be.

The father is the legal guardian of the minor children. At his death the mother is ent.i.tled to the guardians.h.i.+p and custody. The mother may be appointed guardian by the court during the husband's lifetime. If he is insane or has deserted or neglected his children she is ent.i.tled to full custody.

If the wife is deserted by her husband unjustifiably and not supported by him, she may receive authority from the court for the custody and earnings of her minor children, and he may be imprisoned not less than six months nor more than three years. If he abandon her and is absent from the State one year or more or is condemned to prison for a year or more, the court can order the income from his property applied to the support of his family.

A law of 1896 provided that a wife owning property might contract in writing for the support of her husband and children, but this was repealed in three months. She is not required to support them by her labor or property, as the husband is the legal head of the family.

The most of the above laws have been enacted since 1892.

Until 1889, 10 years was the age for the protection of girls, but then it was made 14 years, with a penalty of not less than ten years'

imprisonment. In 1894 it was raised to 16 and the penalty made not more than fifteen years with no minimum number specified. The former penalty still holds, however, for actual rape.

SUFFRAGE: Women have no form of suffrage. The husband may vote as a taxpayer by right of his wife's real estate.

OFFICE HOLDING: Eligibility to office is limited by the const.i.tution to electors. The article referring to school committee (trustees) merely says, however, that they shall be "residents of the town." In 1872 and '73 the suffrage a.s.sociation procured by direct effort an Act qualifying women to serve on school committees and many have done so with distinction. There are sixteen now serving in the State. The city charter of Pawtucket requires one of the three members to be a woman.

As far back as 1869 an appeal was made by the suffrage a.s.sociation that women should be placed on all boards of management of inst.i.tutions in which women were confined as prisoners or cared for as unfortunates. In partial response an Act was pa.s.sed in 1870 establis.h.i.+ng an Advisory Board of Female Visitors to the charitable, penal and correctional inst.i.tutions of the State. This board had no powers of control, but had full rights of inspection at all times and const.i.tuted an official channel for criticism and suggestions. It is still in existence and is composed of seven representative women.