In part two of our “Argument Against/For” day (first installment here), I wanted to share the Argument for women’s suffrage, prepared by H. G. Cattell, an assemblyman in the 67th California district in 1911. Like this morning’s post, the 1911 argument is on the left and the altered one about women and the priesthood is on the right, with the paragraphs lined up so you can compare them. And again, you can tell it was written a century ago. I found the arguments for/against suffrage to be fascinating. I hope you enjoy it!

In 1911, the state of California was in heated debate about granting suffrage for women. I recently came across one of the arguments against granting women suffrage, written by Sentator J. B. Sanford of the Democratic Caucus. Reading through it, I thought it would be fun to change some of the words. Below, I’ve included the full text of the 1911 argument on the left and an edited version about the ordination of women in the Church on the right. I’ve blocked the paragraphs together for easy comparison. The language is a little awkward and archaic, but so is the argument. Enjoy.

I only have four pages left in my current journal.
(I really don’t like the term ‘journal‘ but neither ‘sketchbook‘ nor ‘scrapbook‘ really fit either. The book is almost as full of taped in mementos, sketches, and the words of other people as it is of my thoughts and experiences. I think I’ll just start calling it my ‘book‘. Yeah.)

by EmilyCC and her grandmother, Aileen Clyde

In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to share the story of my great-great grandmother, Sarah Ann Eliza Brockbank Hales’ blessing by Susa Young Gates.*   

Sarah Ann Eliza’s faith had been tried already when her husband was called to Mammoth, Utah in 1896.  Her husband had been called on a mission to New Zealand two years after they had married, leaving her with their sickly toddler.  Soon after he left, she had to move in with her family, working whatever odd jobs she could get.  Then, she found out she was pregnant.

She writes, “When I learned I was to have another baby, I felt so blue and alone.  I had a sick baby, no income, no bright future, etc.  Well, I thought I could not possibly go through with it, but I did.”  This baby was born 8 months after her husband left on his mission; he wouldn’t return for another 3 years. 

by mraynes

On the first day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
The right to fight the patriarchy.

On the second day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the third day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me
Women’s Property Laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the fourth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the fifth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property rights,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the sixth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the seventh day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Equal Opportunity in Education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the eighth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Access to credit,
Equal opportunity in education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the ninth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Gainful employment,
Access to credit,
Equal opportunity in education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the tenth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Roe v. Wade,
Gainful employment,
Access to credit,
Equal opportunity in education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
FMLA
Roe v. Wade,
Gainful employment,
Access to credit,
Equal opportunity in education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me
Our Bodies, Ourselves
FMLA,
Roe v. Wade,
Gainful employment,
Access to credit,
Equal opportunity in education,
Protection from domestic violence,
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women’s property laws,
Suffrage for all…

And the right to fight the patriarchy.