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BY ANTONIA PETRASH

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Albany native Harriet Burton Laidlaw strategized to secure the vote for women in New York.

n 1915, despite almost seventy years of struggle, the ratification of a national amendment granting women the right to vote Iwas still a distant dream. Most of the pantheon of early suffrage leaders—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Stone— had died, their goals unrealized. While other dynamic leaders had risen to take their place, the movement was often beset by rivalries and conflicts, including a passionate disagreement between those who believed in following the state-by-state method—winning piecemeal— and those who favored an all-out push for a national amendment. But the state-by-state method simply wasn’t working. When Carrie Chapman Catt assumed leadership of the Woman Suffrage Party of Greater New York in 1909 only four states allowed women full suffrage, all of them in the West. By 1915, when she began her second term as President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), that number had only risen to eleven. Within the next few years a rising tide of young, educated

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS professional women would clamor for change, including the Laidlaw’s handbook encouraged women to educate themselves about the political process and more radical members of the immerse themselves in rallies and fundraising activities. National Woman’s Party led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

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Left: Carrie Chapman Catt, 1909 Right: Harriet Burton Laidlaw, 1913 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LIBRARY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Since New York boasted the largest Winning New York New York City was the largest, lieutenants, Harriet Burton Carrie Chapman Catt was a and was in turn divided into Laidlaw, who had recently population, and thus pragmatic strategist who sixty-three assembly districts, authored an influential hand- the largest number recognized the validity of and 2,127 election districts. book outlining a plan for both methods. Although she The New York City Woman suffragists to organize and win. of representatives favored a national amendment, Suffrage Party, under the Harriet Burton was born she also believed that simulta- leadership of Mary Garret Hay, in Albany in 1873. When the in Congress, enfran- neously pursuing the state- assigned leaders in each of state Constitutional Conven- chised New York by-state method could hasten these districts, who were in turn tion was held there in 1894 passage of the amendment. supervised by a Manhattan suffragists descended on the women could “tip the New York state was the key. borough chairperson. The city, campaigning unsuccess- Since New York boasted goal was to identify and try to fully for an amendment that balance” in favor of a the largest population, and influence every elected official would remove the word “male” national amendment. thus the largest number of throughout the state. But to from voter qualifications, representatives in Congress, achieve that seemingly hercu- thus allowing women to vote. enfranchised New York women lean goal Catt would need a Harriet worked as a page at could “tip the balance” in host of dedicated supporters the convention. Listening to favor of a national amendment. and volunteers to help the speeches and reveling in New York state was divided organize the effort. She turned the heady atmosphere of into twelve campaign districts; to one of her most trusted change nourished in her a

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budding passion for political LIBRARY OF CONGRESS activism. After graduation from Albany Normal School, she taught in the New York City public schools for twelve years. In 1905 she married banker James Lees Laidlaw. She could not have found a better partner—James’s passion for political equality for women matched her own. Their daughter Louise was born a year later.

Wisdom and Foresight In 1908, Harriet became secretary of the College Equal Suffrage League, (CESL), an organization formed to engage young college women in suffrage work, thus enabling them to “pay their debt to the enduring the jeers and insults city, and watched her climb Harriet and James Laidlaw, seen pioneers” of the movement. of spectators. He was president soapboxes to give speeches on in the foreground on the steps of Her work there caught the of the national Men’s League street corners, in parks, and the U.S. Capitol, were both part eye of Carrie Chapman Catt, for Woman Suffrage from factories. Louise distributed of the suffrage delegation to the who was impressed with both 1912 to 1920, and a strong suffrage leaflets, and marched House Rules Committee in 1914. Harriet’s passion and organi- believer that the suffrage issue with her parents in parades. zational skills. In 1911, Harriet was a simple one of equality In 1911 and again in 1914, had been Acting Manhattan and justice. In November 1912, Harriet and James traveled Borough Chairperson of the he helped Harriet organize the through the Western states New York City Woman Torchlight parade, a stunning where women already enjoyed Suffrage Party; in 1912, Catt celebration of recent suffrage the vote, urging support for wrote her, imploring her to victories in Michigan, Oregon, legislators who would vote take over that important job Kansas, and Arizona. Men for suffrage for their eastern officially: “I sincerely believe were invited, and encouraged sisters, and enlisting men in the that your tact and sweetness, to bring friends. Thousands of Men’s Equal Suffrage League. wisdom and foresight would men, women, and children bring the rest of the city to carried yellow pumpkin-shaped Suffrage Referendum the standard of Manhattan.” lanterns from 58th Street, Harriet’s 1914 handbook, Catt’s flattery worked; Harriet down Fifth Avenue to Union Organizing to Win by the assumed the post officially in Square. The New York Times Political District Plan, offered 1912 and held it for four years. reported over 400,000 people a step-by-step blueprint for Suffrage work in the watched while a “long river victory. “The Woman Suffrage Laidlaw household was a of fire” marched into the Party’s voice must be heard in family affair. In 1910, James gathering dusk. undeviating demand for the helped organize the New York Daughter Louise was also submission of the woman Men’s Suffrage League, and enlisted to work in the suffrage amendment to the paraded with the group up campaign. She accompanied voters,” she wrote. Women Fifth Avenue, cheerfully her mother throughout the must educate themselves

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Right: Suffragists, including Harriet Laidlaw, supported the war effort as the U.S. entered World War I. Below: Parades and marches were an important part of the path to women’s suffrage. Suffragists marched in Washington on the day before Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration.

was not afraid to speak her huge disappointment and mind and had little patience some tears, but no admission for women who opposed of defeat. When asked how votes for women, calling long the loss would affect the them “ultra society women.” cause Carrie Chapman Catt In 1913, the New York replied, “Only until we get a State Legislature had placed on little sleep. Our campaign will the ballot a vote on a suffrage be on again tomorrow morn-

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS LIBRARY referendum in the form of ing—and forever until we get an amendment to the State the vote.” Two days later, in a Constitution; voting would “roll up your sleeves” spirit, about the political process, take place in 1915 and if the the National Association held They pledged to and at the same time immerse measure failed it could not be a massive rally at Cooper themselves in rallies and fund- voted upon again for two Union where $100,000 was continue their work raising activities, she believed. years. In January of that year pledged for the new campaign. In typical Harriet fashion, she suffragists canvassed all of New The new motto was “Victory for suffrage, while also advised that while York City’s 661,164 registered in 1917.” As Vice-Chairman simultaneously engaged they should still voters. Hundreds of women of the New York State Woman remain “dignified, gracious, spent hours visiting shops and Suffrage Party, Harriet was off making it very clear tactful and earnest.” homes, trudging through office again touring the state, As Manhattan Borough buildings, making a personal encouraging district leaders to that they supported Chairperson, Harriet took pains appeal to voters. “Victory in hold fast to the work at hand, the war effort as well. to acquaint herself with the 1915” was the slogan. posting messages on billboards, leaders and captains through- On the evening of the distributing flyers to churches out the city. She joined them election, November 2, 1915, and military installations, and in parades and block parties, suffrage leaders gathered at holding block parties and teas. outdoor concerts and benefit the headquarters at East 34th When the United States balls. She campaigned on Street in a heady cloud of entered World War I in April Long Island where she and optimism. But the promise 1917, suffrage leaders faced James owned a summer home seen in the early returns soon a crucial decision. Should in Sands Point, holding fund- dissipated, and by midnight they put suffrage work aside raisers on the front lawn. it was obvious the measure and throw all their efforts While she was described as had been soundly defeated into support for the war? “friendly and outgoing,” she by 194,984 votes. There was Anti-suffrage groups were

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already accusing them of WASHINGTON OF THE PORT COURTESY PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY CENTER THE ARCHIVES being unpatriotic and disloyal CONNECTION for continuing to campaign for the vote while men were collection of Harriet fighting overseas. A Burton Laidlaw papers But suffragists had put was donated by her daugh- their efforts aside during the ter to the Schlesinger Library Civil War, believing that when at Radcliff University and is the war was over they would available on microfilm at the be repaid for their loyalty with Long Island Studies Institute, the vote. They would not Hofstra University, Hempstead, make the same mistake again. New York. Harriet’s pamphlet, They pledged to continue Organizing to Win by The their work for suffrage, while Political District Plan, is simultaneously making it very included in the papers. A clear that they supported the scrapbook containing clippings war effort as well. Harriet about the Torchlight and engaged volunteers to help other parades is housed with the state military census. at the New York Historical While they were busy enroll- Society, New York City. ing people at military depots Columbia University archives they distributed suffrage also has a privately published literature, wearing suffrage book about the life of James buttons. They joined the leaders approached Election became the law of the land. Lees Laidlaw. National League for Woman’s Day 1917 apprehensively, still Around 1930, the League Correspondence of the Service, where they ran can- stung by accusations from antis of Women Voters unveiled New York Woman Suffrage teens for soldiers, and offered of disloyalty to their govern- plaques, now displayed at the Association can be found classes in food conservation. ment, still reeling from their Capitol building in Albany, at the New York Public 1915 defeat. Yet, the move- honoring those of “distin- Library archives at the 42nd Unprecedented Canvassing ment had again been placed guished achievement” in the street branch. Some books In 1916, to counteract another on the ballot for a vote— woman suffrage movement. consulted were Winning the damaging claim by anti- there was no turning back. Both Laidlaws’ names were Vote: The Triumph of the suffragists that “most women This time they were not inscribed on the New York American Woman Suffrage didn’t want the vote,” suf- disappointed. On November 6, tablet. James was the only Movement by Robert P.J. fragists in an unprecedented 1917, New York voters passed man accorded that honor. Cooney Jr. and Carrie move canvassed the entire woman suffrage by 102,353 Harriet continued to work for Chapman Catt: A Public Life state. They traveled through votes; the majority came from other humanitarian causes by Jacqueline Van Voris. small towns and large cities, New York City. A major turn- until her death in January 1949. Information about the ringing doorbells of the rich ing point for the national fight In the reference area of Laidlaws’ life on Long Island and the poor, collecting over had been reached, the balance the Port Washington Public can be found in the Port a million signatures on a forever tipped. With New York’s Library, near the Laidlaws’ Washington Public Library’s petition. On October 17, 1917, forty-seven representatives home in Sand Point, there is history collection, primarily the Procession of Petitions in a Congress of 435, the a banner Harriet carried in Discovering Sands Point: Its marched down Fifth Avenue, two-thirds majority required parades. It is embroidered with History, Its People, Its Places, with placards carrying all the for a national amendment the fitting line from “The Choir by Joan Gay Kent. names of women who had was finally within sight. On Invisible,” a poem by George signed. Women did want the August 26, 1920, the Eliot: “In deeds of daring vote—that was very clear. Nineteenth Amendment to rectitude, in scorn of misera- Harriet and other suffrage the United States Constitution ble aims that end in self.”n

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