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In Missouri one of our most significant meetings
was in Bowling Green； the home of Champ Clark；
Speaker of the House。 Mrs。 Clark gave a reception；
made a speech； and introduced me at the meeting；
as Mrs。 Bryan had done in Lincoln。 She is one of
the brightest memories of my Missouri experience；
for； with few exceptions； she is the most entertaining
woman I have ever met。 Subsequently we had an
all…day motor journey together； during which Mrs。
Clark rarely stopped talking and I even more rarely
stopped laughing。
XV
CONVENTION INCIDENTS
From 1887 to 1914 we had a suffrage convention
every year； and I attended each of them。 In pre…
ceding chapters I have mentioned various convention
episodes of more or less importance。 Now； looking
back over them all as I near the end of these remi…
niscences； I recall a few additional incidents which
had a bearing on later events。
There was； for example； the much…discussed at…
tack on suffrage during the Atlanta convention of
1895； by a prominent clergyman of that city whose
name I mercifully withhold。 On the Sunday pre…
ceding our arrival this gentleman preached a sermon
warning every one to keep away from our meetings；
as our effort was not to secure the franchise for
women； but to encourage the intermarriage of the
black and white races。 Incidentally he declared that
the suffragists were trying to break up the homes
of America and degrade the morals of women； and
that we were all infidels and blasphemers。 He ended
with a personal attack on me； saying that on the
previous Sunday I had preached in the Epworth
Memorial Methodist Church of Cleveland； Ohio； a
sermon which was of so blasphemous a nature that
nothing could purify the church after it except to
burn it down。
As usual at our conventions； I had been announced
to preach the sermon at our Sunday conference； and
I need hardly point out that the reverend gentle…
man's charge created a deep public interest in this
effort。 I had already selected a text； but I im…
mediately changed my plans and announced that
I would repeat the sermon I had delivered in Cleve…
land and which the Atlanta minister considered so
blasphemous。 The announcement brought out an
audience which filled the Opera House and called
for a squad of police officers to keep in order the
street crowd that could not secure entrance。 The
assemblage had naturally expected that I would
make some reply to the clergyman's attack； but I
made no reference whatever to him。 I merely re…
peated； with emphasis； the sermon I had delivered
in Cleveland。
At the conclusion of the service one of the trustees
of my reverend critic's church came and apologized
for his pastor。 He had a high regard for him； the
trustee said； but in this instance there could be no
doubt in the mind of any one who had heard both
sermons that of the two mine was the tolerant； the
reverent； and the Christian one。 The attack made
many friends for us； first because of its injustice；
and next because of the good…humored tolerance
with which the suffragists accepted it。
The Atlanta convention； by the way； was ar…
ranged and largely financed by the Misses Howard
three sisters living in Columbus； Georgia； and each
an officer of the Georgia Woman Suffrage Association。
It is a remarkable fact that in many of our Southern
states the suffrage movement has been led by three
sisters。 In Kentucky the three Clay sisters were
for many years leaders in the work。 In Texas the
three Finnegan sisters did splendid work； in Loui…
siana the Gordon sisters were our stanchest allies；
while in Virginia we had the invaluable aid of Mary
Johnston； the novelist； and her two sisters。 We
used to say； laughingly； if there was a failure to
organize any state in the South； that it must be due
to the fact that no family there had three sisters
to start the movement。
From the Atlanta convention we went directly
to Washington to attend the convention of the
National Council of Women； and on the first day
of this council Frederick Douglass came to the meet…
ing。 Mr。 Douglass had a special place in the hearts
of suffragists； for the reason that at the first con…
vention ever held for woman suffrage in the United
States （at Seneca Falls； New York） he was the only
person present who stood by Elizabeth Cady Stan…
ton when she presented her resolution in favor of
votes for women。 Even Lucretia Mott was startled
by this radical step； and privately breathed into the
ear of her friend； ‘‘Elizabeth； thee is making us
ridiculous！'' Frederick Douglass； however； took the
floor in defense of Mrs。 Stanton's motion； a service
we suffragists never forgot。
Therefore； when the presiding officer of the council；
Mrs。 May Wright Sewall； saw Mr。 Douglass enter the
convention hall in Washington on this particular morn…
ing； she appointed Susan B。 Anthony and me a com…
mittee to escort him to a seat on the platform； which
we gladly did。 Mr。 Douglass made a short speech
and then left the building； going directly to his home。
There； on entering his hall； he had an attack of heart
failure and dropped dead as he was removing his
overcoat。 His death cast a gloom over the con…
vention； and his funeral； which took place three
days later； was attended by many prominent men
and women who were among the delegates。 Miss
Anthony and I were invited to take part in the
funeral services； and she made a short address；
while I offered a prayer。
The event had an aftermath in Atlanta； for it
led our clerical enemy to repeat his charges against
us； and to offer the funeral of Frederick Douglass as
proof that we were hand in glove with the negro
race。
Under the gracious direction of Miss Kate Gordon
and the Louisiana Woman Suffrage Association； we
held an especially inspiring convention in New
Orleans in 1903。 In no previous convention were
arrangements more perfect； and certainly nowhere
else did the men of a community co…operate more gen…
erously with the women in entertaining us。 A club
of men paid the rent of our hall； chartered a steam…
boat and gave us a ride on the Mississippi； and in
many other ways helped to make the occasion a suc…
cess。 Miss Gordon； who was chairman of the
programme committee； introduced the innovation of
putting me before the audience for twenty minutes
every evening； at the close of the regular session；
as a target for questions。 Those present were
privileged to ask any questions they pleased； and I
answered themif I could。
We were all conscious of the dangers attending
a discussion of the negro question； and it was under…
stood among the Northern women that we must
take every precaution to avoid being led into such
discussion。 It had not been easy to persuade Miss
Anthony of the wisdom of this course； her way was
to face issues squarely and out in the open。 But
she agre