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the story of a pioneer-第66章

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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
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