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SUFFRAGE CANVASS SUCCESS

Local Committee Secures 1,835 Signatures for Equal Voting Rights

In conjunction with all other woman suffrage associations in Massachusetts, the women of the Second Franklin Suffrage association, the local branch of the State organization, has conducted a canvass among the women of the town to secure the signatures of those who favor equal voting rights. The results of their labors locally are highly gratifying, 1,835 signatures having been secured. The quota assigned to this town was 1,391 and this was exceeded by about 40 per cent., a better record than was made in a number of other cities and towns in Western Massachusetts, although in practically all these communities, where the canvasses have been completed, the quotas were exceeded.

The canvass in Greenfield was made from house to house, and no difficulty whatever was experienced in securing the required number of names, and no particular pains were taken to reach every woman in town.

Every woman who signed was first questioned regarding her citizenship and age.

One hundred prominent local men have signed their names to a petition to further the passage and ratification of the federal suffrage amendment also.

Mrs. William F. Aiken, chairman of the local district, had in charge the work of canvassing the town and she will forward the petitions, the signatures affixed, to the State headquarters at Boston. There the petitions from all over the State will be used in exerting influence on politiical leaders by showing the sentiments of the great majority of women in Massachusetts, regarding equal suffrage.

Owing to the defeat of the suffrage bill in 1915, the Massachusetts leaders of the suffrage movement believe that a new political background must be formed in this State by the plan now being successfully worked out and which has been a big factor in securing suffrage rights in other States. From the entire State, 266,000 names must be forthcoming, and the quotas assigned to the various districts were figured on a basis of 60 per cent of the presidential vote of 1916. Judging from the ease with which the quotas in the various districts have been fulfilled, there is no doubt but that the State quota will be far exceeded.

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution was passed on June 4, 1919. Before that happened the women of Massachusetts signed petitions calling for the State Legislature to support it. The numbers were overwhelmingly in favor of equal voting rights. Massachusetts ratified the amendment on June 25, 1919. The active participation in the war effort from 1917 to 1918 helped to win support for the amendment which became part of the constitution on August 26, 1920.

 

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"Suffrage Canvass Success" article from The Greenfield Recorder newspaper

publisher   Greenfield Recorder
date   May 14, 1919
location   Greenfield, Massachusetts
width   2.5"
height   9.25"
process/materials   printed paper, ink
item type   Periodicals/Newspaper
accession #   #L08.022


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See Also...

Suffrage letter to George Sheldon

"Beecher on Female Suffrage" article from Greenfield Gazette and Courier newspaper

"Magnificent Parade of Women" from "Around the World with a Camera"


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