Suffrage in the Media 1915: Six Full Pages in the New York Times

Just posted at suffrageandthemedia.org: Early in 1915, the New York State Legislature voted at last to support putting forward to the electorate a referendum on a change in the state constitution that would give women the vote. That Valentine’s Day, the New York Times, no fan of the idea, devoted six full pages of its Sunday, Feb. 14 edition to responses—in letters to the editor format—from major figures on both sides of the question. Note financier and “suffragent” George Foster Peabody, president of the Men’s League for Woman Suffrage, featured on the section’s front page. Despite the inventive, passionate campaign the suffragists mounted, the referendum failed that round. It passed two years later, on Nov. 6, 1917, when it again came before the state’s (male) voters. That’s the 100th Anniversary of Woman Suffrage in New York State being celebrated this year.

New York Times Letters: Should Women Have the Vote in New York State?