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128 & fathers the women who struggled by their sides. The men of only four out of the forty-five states of our republic have granted liberty to the women. “I can never sit in a meeting like this without bearing testimony to the cowardice of the men of this nation in refusing to grant freedom to women. I believe in freedom and equality for every human being under every flag, and I hope it will not only come to the men people but to the women people.” Y Rochester Union and Advertiser, 22 February 1897. 1. George Alden Benton (1848–1921) of nearby Spencerport was the Monroe County Surrogate. After graduation from Cornell and Columbia universities, he had a long and distinguished career as a lawyer and judge.It was his activism in the Republican Lincoln Club that brought him to the stage on this occasion. (Fitch, Encyclopedia of Biography of New York, 3:128–29; Cornell Alumni News 24 [29 September 1921]: 6; New York Times, 11 September 1921.) ••••••••• 54 • SBA to Rachel Foster Avery Rochester, February 26, 1897 My dear Rachel: I am just in receipt of a telegram from South Dakota saying that the Legislature has passed the amendment resolution, so now we shall have to turn in and help that State all we possibly can. 1 I also have a letter from Senator Stratton of California, saying he is confident the Legislature will pass the resolution for resubmission. 2 That will make two States; then the women are sure it is going to be submitted in Washington 3 and Montana. 4 I have written Mrs. Catt that I feel it will be a great mistake to spend money for organization or agitation in the States that she has named; that since we have settled upon trying to secure the submission of an amendment in Iowa,we will stick to that,and besides help S.Dakota and other States that shall have amendments pending. 5 All our experience proves that it is very difficult to make convention campaigns or organization campaigns pay expenses in States where no amendment is pending, because we cannot make the people feel any necessity for organization; while, on the other hand, we have learned that wherever one is pending, we secure large audiences, liberal contributions and thorough organization. So I most decidedly object to raising money 21 february 1897 ^ 129 for mere educational work and agitation in new States, or States where we do not want to get an amendment submitted. The idea of sending Mrs. Bradford 6 and Miss Ella Harrison 7 off to Alabama and Florida seems to me perfectly wild! 8 Let the women in those far-behind States peg away in their own small way as best they can with their own stay-at-home women,but let the National gives its great force only where organization is needed for the practical end of securing a majority vote at the next election. I thought that we settled upon all this so clearly at Des Moines,and I wrote Mrs.Catt that it was surprising to me that she should again propose to scatter fire all over the country. It is the wildest fantasy and the most extravagant financiering that could be devised. So, I hope you will use your influence with Mrs. C. to stick to Iowa and the States in which amendments shall be pending. We cannot say which States will do it, nor which won’t, but we must be ready, as Lincoln said, “to follow the logic of events.” Niece Louise 9 took the Black Diamond train to-day for Philadelphia. We have enjoyed her two weeks’ visit very much. She is a perfect little gem about the house; knows just how to help,and when and where,and she has been doubly helpful to Sister Mary now because our Julia’s father is very ill, 10 so that she is compelled to be at home most of the time, and Sister Mary has everything to do. How do you get on with the report? 11 Can’t you send me the first proof as to give me some idea of what you are doing? With love, Y TL, on NAWSA letterhead, Anthony-Avery Papers, NRU. Signed for SBA by secretary. 1. The telegram, from Anna R. Simmons and Emma A. Cranmer, came late in the evening of February 25.After voters in South Dakota rejected a woman suffrage amendment to the state constitution in...

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