Memories of the Calls 28: Charlotte Joslin Call's Essay on Woman Suffrage

I wish to copy one of Charlotte Call's papers. I think it was giving at Silver Lake W.C.T.U. Day. 

"Woman Suffrage

The subject to-day brought before us What is the next thing to do? brings forcibly to my thoughts What we want done for us? We have had the privilige for the past years of working allong the lines presented to us this morning. We must sow the seed, keep sowing and waiting for the Harvest. Are we entirely discouraged? No. We have had showers of Blessings seen some of the fruits of our labors- but the terrible thing in our midst against which much of our effort has been spent exists in all its hydra headedness. We have been trying to teach the children to keep away from it, to shun it in all its forms, we have tried to incite men to vote it out, put it out of existence but Oh! so many like it, others are afraid of it. This this is a great moneyed power, and some are afraid they will lose their office if they should offend it, and would not get elected next time and so this Demon is licensed to rob and kill their women and children, fill our penetentiarys and jails, and make thousands of our homes desolate and we women have been at work trying to life up the fallen, bind up the broken-hearted, forming total abstinence societies trying to teach the children and the young the evils and dangers of this monster. Oh yes, some say, that is all right. Women are fitted for such work. But we must be given the help and power we should have thru the ballot, that we may stand side by side with our husbands our brothers and our sons and carry out the plans given us by God himself, when He said Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created Man in his own image, in the image of God created He him- male male and female over the the fowls of the air and over everything that moveth upon the earth. When God gave woman to man He did not say she is to be your slave, she will be useful to cook your food, clean your house, make and see to your wardrobe,- but she should be especially an helpmate and have dominion over all the things which God created. Side by side they should have the Power and the responsibility -This is Equality. If one goes wrong the other has to suffer with him, - and as we look into heathendom we wonder how it was that woman fell so low and has been so crushed as she has been in the past and is at the present time. But we know how it was, they had not the sacred word, The Bible, to give them liberty, but it is here in New York, we have it to-day. Has not woman the intelligence, knowledge, judgement, zeal. Oh yes, they are right in the home, and they have been allowed to vote at school meeting if they have the necessary qualifications, but they do not know anything about politics. Is the making of our Laws so very difficult that a woman cannot understand them! If they are they certainly should be made so plain that not only women but men could understand them and keep them. ---- One says but women do not want to vote. I am very sorry when I hear an intelligent woman say I dont want to vote. I am not willing, - my husband shall do my voting, surely that woman, however intelligent she may be is shirking the responsibility of a true helpmate, - not valuing her power in the world if she had her rights as a citizen. A friend said to me What good would it do you The women wouldn't all vote as you would think they would. You would be very much surprised how some would vote. We no doubt should be. - We are now, when we see those calling themselves men, - having the power of the ballot - selling for a drink of the vile stuff called Whiskey or other intoxicating drink their vote- others take a dollar or two for their time, such men do not wish to know much about what is to be done by the Law makers power, when asked where the stood Oh I am a Republican or a Democrat, that is about as far as many know. Women can read, study and think and when she gets her natural rights as a citizen she will be of much more consequence than now.- It is time Woman should think and act for herself in politics as well as in her household affairs, woman should have the right to be her own child--- we have been sending petitions to Congress for the betterment of our laws, often to be thrust under the table and thought not to be worth perusal. if we had equal rights we should form a part of their constituency and command attention. Ladies, the next thing for us to do is to work for political equality. We must have it and it is looking that way. Miss Susan B. Anthony, at the International Council of Women in London, said that she had not given up faith in men, but believed they had a great future before them, as well as the women. Susan B. Anthony and others have spent a lifetime trying to persuade men and women that women should have their rights. - Miss Anthony rejoices in the fact that forty years ago it was difficult for her to get a place to speak or an audience to listen to her now the crowds come to hear her. - At the Social (-----) Conference of the International (----) of women held in Buffalo in Jn 1899 at which it is said there were many more men than women present, a Resolution that women should vote on equal terms with men was unaniamously adopted, 148 voting for it and not one against it. While a resolution that we are opposed to the licensing of the liquor business was tabled. The prohibitionists threw our cause overboard as being too difficult for them to carry, but I am afraid that we should have the ballot ere we should see the prohibition of liquor traffic. Most women would be willing to wait if by so doing it would hasten the death of the liquor traffice, -- but we do not see that the Prohibition vote has increased much since Woman Suffrage was taken off the platform.

In those states where Woman Suffrage has been given the Governor of Colorado said I have seen much of the workings of Woman Suffrage. I have yet to hear of the first case of domestic discord growing therefrom, Our women nearly all vote. As the majority of women are good, the result is good, not evil. Another report said The men are as favorable to Woman Suffrage as women are. No one will deny that woman's influence in voting has been on the side of good government, and given the ballot she will aid the majority for the right. Let us go to work. - to educate our women and girls to be ready and well fitted for citizenship, that they may (----) stand in their lot, and fill the places marked for them."

Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Weaver were once speaking of Mrs. Charlotte Call and said there was no one in the County W.C.T.U. who wrote more original papers. 

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Patty's notes on this entry. 

Charlotte Joslin Call, c 1904

It is unknown when Charlotte Joslin Call wrote this essay. Internal evidence points to late 1899 - before the 1900 presidential election. 

I haven't been able to identify a WCTU day at Silver Lake where Charlotte Joslin Call spoke on Women's Suffrage. 

The International Council of Women was founded in 1888 in Washington, DC with the purpose of bringing together Women's organizations from around the world. Susan B. Anthony and Frances Willard were among the founders of the ICW. The International Congress of Women met jointly with the International Council of Women from June 26-July 7, 1899 for their 2nd Quinquentennial meeting. Susan B. Anthony was a delegate from the United States at that meeting. During the Conference, Susan B. Anthony spoke to a group of men at Westminster Congregational Chapel on women suffrage. This may be where she made the comments Charlotte Call referred to. 

The published report on the 1899 conference in London is available at the HathiTrust site at https://archive.org/details/internationalco04womegoog/page/n11/mode/2up

I haven't been able to identify what the 1899 conference in Buffalo that addressed woman suffrage and licensing of liquor businesses. 

In 1896, there was a schism in the Prohibition Party over the platform. Some wanted to narrow the party platform to focus only on prohibition. Prior to this, the party had supported issues such as free silver and women's suffrage. The narrower platform was approved resulting in a split in the party and the formation of the National Party. The 1896 Prohibition Party presidential candidate Joshua Levering received less than half the number of votes (131,312 votes) in the November election as John Bidwell had received in 1892 (270,879 votes).  In 1900, the Prohibition Party candidate John G. Wooley received 210,864 votes. 

Alva Adams, the Governor of Colorado from 1887-1889, 1897-1899, and briefly in 1905, frequently spoke in favor of Woman Suffrage and that it had not had negative effects on women or families in his state. I haven't been able to identify when he spoke the phrase "I have seen much of the workings of Woman Suffrage. I have yet to hear of the first case of domestic discord growing therefrom, Our women nearly all vote." that Charlotte Call included in her speech. It may have been at a January 1899 reception in Denver attended by Carrie Chapman Catt. According to The History of Woman Suffrage

edited by Susan B Anthony and Ida Husted Harper - "In January, 1899, Denver entertained Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, and Miss Mary G. Hay, secretary, as they were passing through the State. Mrs. A. L. Welch gave a reception in their honor, at which ex-Gov Charles S. Thomas and Gov. Alva Adams spoke enthusiastically of the results of equal suffrage, followed by Mrs Chapman Catt in an interesting address." 

The History of Woman Suffrage is available at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29870/29870-h/29870-h.htm   The reference to Alva Adams' support for woman suffrage is on page 551

The combination of comments about events in 1899 and the non-repitition of lower vote totals for the Prohibition Party in 1900 are what indicate to me that this essay was likely delivered between July 1899 and November 1900. 

On July 19, 1905, Charlotte Joslin Call did address a WCTU meeting on Women's Suffrage at her daughter-in-law Elizabeth Coe Call's home with a paper "What To Do Next". 

This entry is the final section of the Memories of the Calls. The manuscript continues with Coe History - I'll start adding that to my blog next. 

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