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A Kinder Gentler Approach
A Kinder Gentler Approach
Suffragists Being Arrested, 1918. Library of Congress Harris & Ewing Collection.
When we think about women’s suffrage, the first images we often see are those of women marching in front of the White House or Capitol, going on hunger strikes, or being hauled off to jail. For the most part, these were not Montgomery County women. The suffrage movement in the county was more reserved and law-abiding. In fact, at various times, Montgomery County suffragists made it clear they did not approve of or support the more confrontational methods employed by other suffragists in Maryland. [Washington Times (Washington, DC), July 20, 1914]
Much like the local women’s clubs, participants of Montgomery County suffrage efforts were predominantly white, middle and upper class women (and men). Until the early 1900s, Sandy Spring was the epicenter of women’s suffrage in the county. Sandy Spring resident, Caroline Hallowell Miller organized the county’s first suffrage organization, called the Maryland Woman Suffrage Association, in 1889. Early members of the Association included many of Miller’s extended family and neighbors.
In 1906, the Baltimore Sun listed all 102 members of the Association, which was then called the Montgomery County Suffrage Association. The names are familiar ones, mostly from prominent, socially connected families, such as Adams, Brooke, Duvall, Farquhar, Haviland, Miller, Magruder, Moore, Poole, Stabler, and Thomas. Many had Quaker roots. [Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), January 7, 1906]
Suffrage Cape. Montgomery History.
Until 1917, the county had two active suffrage leagues—the Montgomery County Suffrage Association (also referred in news articles over several years as the Women’s Suffrage Association, the Equal Suffrage Association, the Equal Franchise Suffrage Association, and the Equal Suffrage League) and the Just Government League of Montgomery County. By early 1917, members of the Just Government League of Montgomery County openly disapproved of picketing in front of the White House, criticizing President Wilson, staging hunger strikes, and other such methods endorsed by the Maryland Just Government League. Consequently, Montgomery County members disavowed these methods, withdrew from the state league, and became the Woman Suffrage League of Montgomery County.
“It developed at a recent meeting of the executive board of the Just Government League of Montgomery County that the members of the league do not approve of the methods of the women who are picketing the White House in the interest of the proposed federal suffrage amendment.” [Evening Star (Washington, DC), January 21, 1917]
“It developed at a recent meeting of the executive board of the Just Government League of Montgomery County that the members of the league do not approve of the methods of the women who are picketing the White House in the interest of the proposed federal suffrage amendment.” [Evening Star (Washington, DC), January 21, 1917]
Later that same year, the county’s two suffrage organizations merged under the Woman’s Suffrage League, which aligned itself with the National Woman’s Suffrage Association (NAWSA), reaffirming its opposition to “militancy.”
Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, November 11, 1917. Library of Congress, Chronicling America.
When the women’s suffrage amendment to the U.S. Constitution eventually passed in 1919, it did so quietly in Montgomery County. The only mention in the county newspaper, The Sentinel, read:
“The House woman suffrage resolution was adopted by the Senate late Wednesday last and the proposed constitutional amendment now goes to the States for ratification. The vote was 56 for adoptions and 25 against, or two more than two-thirds majority required.” [Montgomery County Sentinel (Rockville, MD), June 6, 1919]
“The House woman suffrage resolution was adopted by the Senate late Wednesday last and the proposed constitutional amendment now goes to the States for ratification. The vote was 56 for adoptions and 25 against, or two more than two-thirds majority required.” [Montgomery County Sentinel (Rockville, MD), June 6, 1919]
And, although the amendment had been passed, the work of suffrage organizations continued. The amendment still needed to be ratified by 36 states. In Montgomery County, the Woman's Suffrage League, under the leadership of Jessie Ross Thomson, developed a plan:
"At the July meeting of the Woman's Suffrage League of Montgmery county, held at the home of Miss Margaret Dawson, here, with Mrs. J. Ross Thomson presiding, plans were made for the circulation of petitions to the next legislature asking for the ratification of the federal suffrage amendment. It was further decided to work for the success of only those legislative candidates who are know to favor ratification." [Evening Star (Washington, DC), July 27, 1919]
"At the July meeting of the Woman's Suffrage League of Montgmery county, held at the home of Miss Margaret Dawson, here, with Mrs. J. Ross Thomson presiding, plans were made for the circulation of petitions to the next legislature asking for the ratification of the federal suffrage amendment. It was further decided to work for the success of only those legislative candidates who are know to favor ratification." [Evening Star (Washington, DC), July 27, 1919]
Despite their efforts, on February 20, 1920, Maryland voted against ratification. Shortly thereafter, Judge Oscar Leser of Baltimore sued the State of Maryland to remove from the list of voters the names of two Baltimore women who had registered. Leser argued that "Maryland constitution granted voting rights only to men, and that Maryland had not ratified the 19th Amendment." The case went before the Supreme Court. The Court ruled against Leser in its decision, dated February 27, 1922, and confirmed the constitutionality of the 19th Amendment. Maryland eventually did ratify the 19th Amendment, but not until 1941. Furthermore, the ratification vote was not certified until 1958. [National Park Service]
Despite Maryland's opposition, the 19th Amendment was ratified in August 1920. Local coverage was once again brief:
“Tennessee on Wednesday last ratified the Federal woman suffrage amendment, the lower house of the Legislature by a vote of 50 to 46 concurring in the action of the Senate, which last Friday adopted the ratification resolution by a vote of 25 to 4. This makes the thirty-sixth State to act favorably on the amendment.” [Montgomery County Sentinel (Rockville, MD), August 20, 1920]
“Tennessee on Wednesday last ratified the Federal woman suffrage amendment, the lower house of the Legislature by a vote of 50 to 46 concurring in the action of the Senate, which last Friday adopted the ratification resolution by a vote of 25 to 4. This makes the thirty-sixth State to act favorably on the amendment.” [Montgomery County Sentinel (Rockville, MD), August 20, 1920]
For the women of the suffrage movement, their work still was not finished, and, in many ways, it was just beginning. In February 1920, several months before the 19th Amendment was ratified, NAWSA became the League of Women Voters. The intent of this newly formed organization was to continue the work of educating women and "shape legislation to the interests of women." [Evening Star (Washington, DC), February 13, 1920] In Montgomery County, the League of Women Voters remained (and continues to remain) active in advocating for women’s rights, educating women on the issues, and promoting women in politics.
Source for page header image - Martenet, S. J., Martenet & Bond & Schmidt & Trowe. (1865) Martenet and Bond's map of Montgomery County, Maryland. [Baltimore: Simon J. Martenet] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2002620533/.
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