按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Woman Suffrage Association； there can be no feeling
but gratitude and elation over the growth of the
work。 Our membership has grown from 17；000
women to more than 200；000； and the number
of auxiliary societies has increased in propor…
tion。
Instead of the old…time experience of one campaign
in ten years； we now have from five to ten campaigns
each year。 From an original yearly expenditure of
14；000 or 15；000 in our campaign work； we now
expend from 40；000 to 50；000。 In New York； in
1915； we have already received pledges of 150；000
for the New York State campaign alone； while
Pennsylvania； Massachusetts； and New Jersey have
made pledges in proportion。
In 1906 full suffrage prevailed in four states；
we now have it in twelve。 Our movement has
advanced from its academic stage until it has
become a vital political factor； no reform in the
country is more heralded by the press or receives
more attention from the public。 It has become
an issue which engages the attention of the entire
nationand toward this result every woman work…
ing for the Cause has contributed to an inspiring
degree。 Splendid team…work； and that alone； has
made our present success possible and our eventual
triumph in every state inevitable。 Every officer
in our organization； every leader in our campaigns；
every speaker； every worker in the ranks； however
humble； has done her share。
I do not claim anything so fantastic and Utopian
as universal harmony among us。 We have had our
troubles and our differences。 I have had mine。
At every annual convention since the one at Wash…
ington in 1910 there has been an effort to depose
me from the presidency。 There have been some
splendid fighters among my opponentsfine and
high…minded women who sincerely believe that at
sixty…eight I am getting too old for my big job。
Possibly I am。 Certainly I shall resign it with
alacrity when the majority of women in the organiza…
tion wish me to do so。 At present a large majority
proves annually that it still has faith in my leader…
ship； and with this assurance I am content to
work on。
Looking back over the period covered by these
reminiscences； I realize that there is truth in the
grave charge that I am no longer young； and this
truth was once voiced by one of my little nieces in
a way that brought it strongly home to me。 She
and her small sister of six had declared themselves
suffragettes； and as the first result of their conver…
sion to the Cause both had been laughed at by their
schoolmates。 The younger child came home after
this tragic experience； weeping bitterly and declar…
ing that she did not wish to be a suffragette any
morean exhibition of apostasy for which her wise
sister of eight took her roundly to task。
‘‘Aren't you ashamed of yourself；'' she demanded；
‘‘to stop just because you have been laughed at
once？ Look at Aunt Anna！ SHE has been laughed
at for hundreds of years！''
I sometimes feel that it has indeed been hundreds
of years since my work began； and then again it
seems so brief a time that； by listening for a
moment； I fancy I can hear the echo of my child…
ish…voice preaching to the trees in the Michigan
woods。
But long or short； the one sure thing is that； taking
it all in all； the struggles； the discouragements； the
failures； and the little victories； the fight has been；
as Susan B。 Anthony said in her last hours； ‘‘worth
while。'' Nothing bigger can come to a human being
than to love a great Cause more than life itself； and
to have the privilege throughout life of working for
that Cause。
As for life's other gifts； I have had some of them；
too。 I have made many friendships； I have looked
upon the beauty of many lands； I have the assur…
ance of the respect and affection of thousands of
men and women I have never even met。 Though I
have given all I had； I have received a thousand
times more than I have given。 Neither the world
nor my Cause is indebted to me but from the depths
of a full and very grateful heart I acknowledge my
lasting indebtedness to them both。
THE END