gov-info: NARA* Digital Exhibit: Progressive Reform-Votes for Women The woman’s suffrage movement began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. Its leaders drew on a wealth of earlier experience with the antislavery movement in organizing petition drives, conducting electoral campaigns, and lobbying state legislatures and Congress. After the Civil War, the movement’s leaders were disappointed when women were not included in the extension of suffrage to the former slaves. Many turned toward gaining the vote at the state and local level, winning suffrage in 15 states by 1918. The Progressive Era’s thrust toward expanding democracy, however, offered another chance for a successful campaign for a constitutional amendment. *correction: This is a National Archives, not a Library of Congress, project.
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gov-info:

NARA* Digital Exhibit: Progressive Reform-Votes for Women

The woman’s suffrage movement began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York. Its leaders drew on a wealth of earlier experience with the antislavery movement in organizing petition drives, conducting electoral campaigns, and lobbying state legislatures and Congress. After the Civil War, the movement’s leaders were disappointed when women were not included in the extension of suffrage to the former slaves. Many turned toward gaining the vote at the state and local level, winning suffrage in 15 states by 1918. The Progressive Era’s thrust toward expanding democracy, however, offered another chance for a successful campaign for a constitutional amendment.

*correction: This is a National Archives, not a Library of Congress, project.

As the question of Suffrage is now agitating the public mind, it is the hour for Woman to make her demand. Form Letter from E. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone Asking Friends to Send Petitions for Woman Suffrage to their Representatives in Congress, 12/26/1865, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306686)
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As the question of Suffrage is now agitating the public mind, it is the hour for Woman to make her demand.

Form Letter from E. Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone Asking Friends to Send Petitions for Woman Suffrage to their Representatives in Congress, 12/26/1865, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306686)

This document certifies the election of Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) to the 86th Congress as the State of Hawaii’s first voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving in the House for four years, Inouye was elected to the Senate in 1962 where he served until his passing on December 17. Certificate of Election for Representative Daniel K. Inouye, 8/21/1959, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 6926548)
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This document certifies the election of Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) to the 86th Congress as the State of Hawaii’s first voting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After serving in the House for four years, Inouye was elected to the Senate in 1962 where he served until his passing on December 17.

Certificate of Election for Representative Daniel K. Inouye, 8/21/1959, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 6926548)

On December 11, 1917, Alice Wadsworth, President of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, sent this petition to Congress arguing against a constitutional amendment that would grant women the right to vote. Mrs. Wadsworth argued that, “It would be an official endorsement of nagging as national policy.” Despite opposition such as this, Congress passed a joint resolution proposing the 19th Amendment in June of 1919. The 19th Amendment was ratified by the states on August 18, 1920.

Memorial of Alice Wadsworth of the National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage, 12/11/1917, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 595295)

todaysdocument: “This is my day to be heard”-the “Silent Voter”  From the Clifford Berryman Political Cartoon Collection Three nervous Presidential candidates peer over the shoulder of a character representing the silent voter, wondering how he will mark his ballot on Election Day, 1904. President Theodore Roosevelt is the Republican incumbent, opposed by Judge Alton B. Parker, the Democratic candidate and Thomas Edward Watson of the People’s Party.
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todaysdocument:

“This is my day to be heard”
-the “Silent Voter” 

From the Clifford Berryman Political Cartoon Collection

Three nervous Presidential candidates peer over the shoulder of a character representing the silent voter, wondering how he will mark his ballot on Election Day, 1904. President Theodore Roosevelt is the Republican incumbent, opposed by Judge Alton B. Parker, the Democratic candidate and Thomas Edward Watson of the People’s Party.

Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz. The Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires that after a presidential election the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate meet to count the electoral votes. On February 12, 1913 the House and the Senate met in a joint session to count the votes from the 1912 presidential election. The major candidates in the election were the unpopular incumbent President William Howard Taft (Republican Party), former President Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive “Bull Moose Party”) and New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson (Democratic Party). Wilson handily defeated Taft and Roosevelt, winning 435 of the 531 available electoral votes. Wilson also won 42% of the popular vote, while his nearest challenger, Roosevelt, won just 27%. Eugene Debs, who had run on the Socialist ticket, won an impressive 6% of the popular vote but failed to receive a single electoral vote. 1912 Electoral Tally, 2/12/1913, SEN 62A-L1, Records of the U.S. Senate
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Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz.

The Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution requires that after a presidential election the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate meet to count the electoral votes. On February 12, 1913 the House and the Senate met in a joint session to count the votes from the 1912 presidential election. The major candidates in the election were the unpopular incumbent President William Howard Taft (Republican Party), former President Theodore Roosevelt (Progressive “Bull Moose Party”) and New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson (Democratic Party). Wilson handily defeated Taft and Roosevelt, winning 435 of the 531 available electoral votes. Wilson also won 42% of the popular vote, while his nearest challenger, Roosevelt, won just 27%. Eugene Debs, who had run on the Socialist ticket, won an impressive 6% of the popular vote but failed to receive a single electoral vote.

1912 Electoral Tally, 2/12/1913, SEN 62A-L1, Records of the U.S. Senate

On the eve of our next presidential election, we imagine that this cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and William Howard Taft before the 1912 Presidential Election might ring true today. The divided cartoon drawn by Clifford Berryman reveals the confident public persona each candidate projects - how they’re acting - versus the nervousness each candidate undoubtedly feels as the election approaches. Untitled [How They’re Acting and How They Feel] by Clifford Berryman, 11/5/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 306083)
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On the eve of our next presidential election, we imagine that this cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and William Howard Taft before the 1912 Presidential Election might ring true today. The divided cartoon drawn by Clifford Berryman reveals the confident public persona each candidate projects - how they’re acting - versus the nervousness each candidate undoubtedly feels as the election approaches.

Untitled [How They’re Acting and How They Feel] by Clifford Berryman, 11/5/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 306083)

Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz. The 1912 presidential election was a three-way contest among former President Theodore Roosevelt for the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for the Democratic Party, and incumbent President William Howard Taft for the Republican Party. As the election neared, Taft, who had given no major campaign speeches in the months leading up to the election, was living up to the moniker that Roosevelt had given him in September - “a dead cock in the pit.” Despite his lackluster campaign performance, Taft’s campaign managers continued to argue that he was still a contender in the race. They even announced a prediction for the election outcome: Taft would win with 280 electoral votes. In this cartoon, published just weeks before Election Day in the Washington Evening Star, the Democratic donkey and the Bull Moose are shown laughing hysterically. In the general election, held on November 5, 1912, Taft gained a mere eight electoral votes compared with Roosevelt, who gained 88 and Wilson—the winner—who gained 435. G.O.P Bulletin by Clifford Berryman, Washington Evening Star, 10/18/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6040976)
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Congress in the Archives will feature monthly staff posts on our blog. Today’s post comes from Jessie Kratz.

The 1912 presidential election was a three-way contest among former President Theodore Roosevelt for the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party, New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson for the Democratic Party, and incumbent President William Howard Taft for the Republican Party. As the election neared, Taft, who had given no major campaign speeches in the months leading up to the election, was living up to the moniker that Roosevelt had given him in September - “a dead cock in the pit.” Despite his lackluster campaign performance, Taft’s campaign managers continued to argue that he was still a contender in the race. They even announced a prediction for the election outcome: Taft would win with 280 electoral votes. In this cartoon, published just weeks before Election Day in the Washington Evening Star, the Democratic donkey and the Bull Moose are shown laughing hysterically. In the general election, held on November 5, 1912, Taft gained a mere eight electoral votes compared with Roosevelt, who gained 88 and Wilson—the winner—who gained 435.

G.O.P Bulletin by Clifford Berryman, Washington Evening Star, 10/18/1912, U.S. Senate Collection (ARC 6040976)

todaysdocument: Halloween Hoax, 10/31/1912Clifford Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, Records of the U.S. Senate During the Presidential Election of 1912, the Republican Elephant is spooked by the “hollow” threat of Teddy Roosevelt’s new Progressive “Bull Moose” party, which was poised to split the Republican vote.
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todaysdocument:

Halloween Hoax, 10/31/1912
Clifford Berryman Political Cartoon Collection, Records of the U.S. Senate

During the Presidential Election of 1912, the Republican Elephant is spooked by the “hollow” threat of Teddy Roosevelt’s new Progressive “Bull Moose” party, which was poised to split the Republican vote.