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active workers available that to me; at least; the
winning of the state was a happy surprise。
In Kansas we stole some of the prestige of Champ
Clark; who was making political speeches in the
same region。 At one station a brass…band and a
great gathering were waiting for Mr。 Clark's train
just as our train drew in; so the local suffragists per…
suaded the band to play for us; too; and I made a
speech to the inspiring accompaniment of ‘‘Hail to
the Chief。'' The passengers on our train were great…
ly impressed; thinking it was all for us; the crowd
at the station were glad to be amused until the great
man came; and I was glad of the opportunity to
talk to so many representative menso we were
all happy。
In the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth I told the
old men of the days when my father and brothers
left us in the wilderness; and my mother and I cared
for the home while they fought at the frontand
I have always believed that much of the large vote
we received at Leavenworth was cast by those old
soldiers。
No one who knows the conditions doubts that we
really won Michigan that year as well as the three
other states; but strange things were done in the
count。 For example; in one precinct in Detroit
forty more votes were counted against our amend…
ment than there were voters in the district。 In
other districts there were seven or eight more votes
than voters。 Under these conditions it is not sur…
prising that; after the vigorous recounting following
the first wide…spread reports of our success; Michi…
gan was declared lost to us。
The campaign of 1914; in which we won Montana
and Nevada; deserves special mention here。 I must
express also my regret that as this book will be on
the presses before the campaign of 1915 is ended; I
cannot include in these reminiscences the results
of our work in New York and other states。
As a beginning of the 1914 campaign I spent a day
in Chicago; on the way to South Dakota; to take my
part in a moving…picture suffrage play。 It was my
first experience as an actress; and I found it a taxing
one。 As a modest beginning I was ordered to make
a speech in thirty…three secondssomething of a
task; as my usual time allowance for a speech is one
hour。 The manager assured me; however; that a
speech of thirty…three seconds made twenty…seven
feet of filmenough; he thought; to convert even a
lieutenant…governor!
The Dakota campaigns; as usual; resolved them…
selves largely into feats of physical endurance; in
which I was inspired by the fine example of the state
presidentsMrs。 John Pyle of South Dakota and
Mrs。 Clara V。 Darrow of North Dakota。 Every day
we made speeches from the rear platform of the
trains on which we were travelingsometimes only
two or three; sometimes half a dozen。 One day I
rode one hundred miles in an automobile and spoke
in five different towns。 Another day I had to make
a journey in a freight…car。 It was; with a few ex…
ceptions; the roughest traveling I had yet known;
and it took me six hours to reach my destination。
While I was gathering up hair…pins and pulling my…
self together to leave the car at the end of the ride
I asked the conductor how far we had traveled。
‘‘Forty miles;'' said he; tersely。
‘‘That means forty miles AHEAD;'' I murmured。
‘‘How far up and down?''
‘‘Oh; a hundred miles up and down;'' grinned the
conductor; and the exchange of persiflage cheered
us both。
Though we did not win; I have very pleasant
memories of North Dakota; for Mrs。 Darrow ac…
companied me during the entire campaign; and took
every burden from my shoulders so efficiently that
I had nothing to do but make speeches。
In Montana our most interesting day was that
of the State Fair; which ended with a suffrage parade
that I was invited to lead。 On this occasion the
suffragists wished me to wear my cap and gown and
my doctor's hood; but as I had not brought those
garments with me; we borrowed and I proudly wore
the cap and gown of the Unitarian minister。 It was
a small but really beautiful parade; and all the cos…
tumes for it were designed by the state president;
Miss Jeannette Rankin; to whose fine work; by the
way; combined with the work of her friends; the
winning of Montana was largely due。
In Butte the big strike was on; and the town was
under martial law。 A large banquet was given us
there; and when we drove up to the club…house
where this festivity was to be held we were stopped
by two armed guards who confronted us with stern
faces and fixed bayonets。 The situation seemed so
absurd that I burst into happy laughter; and thus
deeply offended the earnest young guards who were
grasping the fixed bayonets。 This sad memory was
wiped out; however; by the interest of the banquet
a very delightful affair; attended by the mayor of
Butte and other local dignitaries。
In Nevada the most interesting feature of the
campaign was the splendid work of the women。 In
each of the little towns there was the same spirit
of ceaseless activity and determination。 The presi…
dent of the State Association; Miss Anne Martin;
who was at the head of the campaign work; accom…
panied me one Sunday when we drove seventy miles
in a motor and spoke four times; and she was also
my companion in a wonderful journey over the
mountains。 Miss Martin was a tireless and worthy
leader of the fine workers in her state。
In Missouri; under the direction of Mrs。 Walter
McNabb Miller; and in Nebraska; where Mrs。 E。
Draper Smith was managing the campaign; we had
some inspiring meetings。 At Lincoln Mrs。 William
Jennings Bryan introduced me to the biggest audi…
ence of the year; and the programme took on a special
interest from the fact that it included Mrs。 Bryan's
debut as a speaker for suffrage。 She is a tall and
attractive woman with an extremely pleasant voice;
and she made an admirable speechclear; terse; and
much to the point; putting herself on record as a
strong supporter of the woman…suffrage movement。
There was also an amusing aftermath of this occa…
sion; which Secretary Bryan himself confided to me
several months later when I met him in Atlantic
City。 He assured me; with the deep sincerity he
assumes so well; that for five nights after my speech
in Lincoln his wife had kept him awake listening to
her report of itand he added; solemnly; that he
now knew it ‘‘by heart。''
A less pleasing memory of Nebraska is that I lost
my voice there and my activities were sadly inter…
rupted。 But I was taken to the home of Mr。 and
Mrs。 Francis A。 Brogan; of Omaha; and supplied
with a trained nurse; a throat specialist; and such
care and comfort that I really enjoyed the enforced
restknowing; too; that the campaign committee
was carrying on our work with great enthusiasm。
In Missouri one of our most significant meetings
was in Bowling Green; the home of Champ C