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^ 59 ••••••••• 18 • Interview of SBA in San Francisco [c. 17 March 1896] Susan B. Anthony, who is here to give the benefit of her experience to the committee managing the woman-suffrage joint campaign, says of her mission to this State: “Our representatives in Washington are always ready to accept invitations to the suffrage platforms in States where we have succeeded,but those representing New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and the older States where suffrage has not existed, the members of Congress, although they may personally express belief in suffrage,are never willing to come forward to announce these views, and seldom accept invitations to the platform. “In New York Chautauqua is the only thoroughly organized county, and from it no man has ever been elected to the State Legislature nor to Congress who is not an avowed suffragist.1 “It is to secure this sort of organization that the double series of conventions are to be held in every county of this State. Hitherto, in all my experience in the effort to influence political conventions to put a suffrage plank in the platform, the response has invariably been ‘Our constituents have never asked us to do so.’ “We therefore want a petition overwhelmingly large to be presented to the nominating conventions of the political parties,that each be influenced to introduce into their platform an indorsement of the suffrage amendment. “We want this large number of signatures to be able to refute that timeworn objection on the score of constituents. “I haven’t the shadow of a doubt that we will succeed if we are able to carry up to the conventions a mammoth petition. It is our desire to stir up those already converted and have them do in each township what the general organizers are doing for the counties of the State.” Y San Francisco Examiner, 18 March 1896. 1. At the time of the amendment campaign of 1894, Chautauqua County boasted nineteen local suffrage clubs with a paid membership of four hundred and fifty, and county activists collected fourteen thousand signatures on petitions to 17 march 1896 60 & 17 march 1896 the constitutional convention that year. See 1894. Constitutional Campaign Year, 185–88, and John P. Downs, ed., History of Chautauqua County, New York, and Its People [Boston, 1921], 1:351–56. ••••••••• 19 • SBA to Mary McHenry Keith1 1630 Folsom St San Francisco Mch 20/’96 My Dear Mrs Keith, Dr. Elizabeth Sargent brings me your note and the News Letter clipping — How can I state our position as to the political parties—so as to be understood— Women can belong to no party—in the sense that men belong— We stand outside of each and all alike—and plead with the leaders of all— alike—to put Suffrage Amendment resolutions in their platforms—thereby making their party editors—and party stump orators free to advocate the amendment without being told they are going outside their platform of principles and policies— Whatwetrytodoistokeepourwomenfromsayingthey’llbelongto—or work for—any political party—until after they are enfranchised— Now— wearebeggarsofeachandall—todeclarethey’llhelpcarrytheamendment— If one, or all, of the parties—puts a plank in platform—they will not only tolerate men’s advocating the amendment—but will be likely to invite women to speak at their party rallies—all over the State—and our speakers are implored to speak only on the one plank—that of Suffrage amdt— For instance—if any one of the State Committees should invite me to speak at one of their party meetings—I should say yes—I shall be happy to do so—provided I may speak only on the W.S. amdt plank—but that I should say nothing on their other planks—whether gold or silver—free trade or tariff—etc— You see our policy is—and will be not to be partisan—but to help the amendment by speaking for it anywhere and everywhere we can get the opportunity to do so. Of all the other points—or plots—in the article, you can deal better blows than can I. If such men could only believe in Nature’s Laws—that neither men nor women can change their sex—that to allow women’s opinions to be counted at the ballot-box, will no more interfere with their wifehood and motherhood—than voting now interferes with men’s husbandhood or father-hood. ...

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