Theodore Tilton to Joseph & Ruth Dugdale

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[Proor CopPy.]

Ghe Entranchisement of @omen.



TO

New York, March 1 hth, 1870.

MRS. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON,

President of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association;

REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER,

~ AND

President of the American Woman Suffrage Association 3

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES of both Associations.

Friends:

We, the undersigned, co-workers like yourselves in the cause of Woman’s Enfran-
chisement, but not members of either of the Societies you represent, fraternally ask

you to weigh the two annexed quotations:

CONSTITUTION

OF THE -

‘| NATIONAL WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I.

This organization shall be called the National ,

Woman’s Suffrage Association.

ARTICLE II.

- Its object. shall be to secure the Ballot to the
women of the Nation on equal terms with men.
*% %



CONSTITUTION
OF THE

AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION. .

ARTICLE I.

This association shall be known as the American®
Woman Suffrage Association.

ARTICLE IL,
Its object shall be to concentrate the efforts of
all the advocates of woman suffrage in the United
States.
* *


After noticing (as you will detect at a glance) that these two constitutions differ

only in language, not in purpose, compare, we pray you, the two following advertise-

ments:

(From the Rrevotutton, Feb. 17, 1870.)
ANNIVERSARY

OF THE

NATIONAL WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE ARGOOIR ON AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ABSOCTA TION.

This Association will hold its regular annual
meeting in Irving Hall, New York, beginning-on
Wednesday, the lith of May next, and continuing
through Shtwiay 9 pa :

* 3

Many of the aii die of the cause—
both men and women—vwill address the meeting.

Communications and contributions for this
meeting, should be addressed to the Corresponding
Secretary. ,

(From the Woman's JournAL, March 12, 1870.)
MASS CONVENTION

or THE onde ©

A mass convention for the advocacy of woman

“suffragé; “under the auspices of the American

Woman Suffrage Association organized in Cleve-.
land, Noy. 24th, 1869, will be held in the City of
New York during anniversary week, in Steinway
Hall, commencing May 11th, 1870, at 10 A. M.,.
and continuing morning, afternoon, and evening,

May llth and 12th.
* *

The fr as of the cause in every State and ter-

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, Pres.

CHARLOTTE B. WILBOUR, Cor. Szc., , oes
151 East bist street, New York.

ritory are respectfully invited to attend,
By, order. of the Executive Committee, Dee. 28, 1869.

HENRY WARD BEECHER, PREs.
MYRA BRADWELL, Cor. Szc.



‘ERNESTINE L. ROSE,‘ Cxai'n Ex. Com.

From these parallel extracts you will perceive that two national societies for Wann:
Enfranchisement-—both having an identical object, both founded on similar constitu-
tions, both covering the same field of effort, both employing like agencies, and both
appealing to one general constituency for _ support—have recently advertised their

approaching May meetings to be held in the same city, on the same days, at the same
hours, and in two halls hardly a stone’s throw apart.

In view of this striking want of co-operation between these two ee
both before the public in a relation difficult to be understood, and delicate to be ex-.
plained; dividing into rival parties the great body of life-long co-workers in the com-.
mon cause; creating an embarrassment to hosts of new friends who, in flocking to the
standard of Woman’s Suffrage, are perplexed to choose between two organizations :-—in
view of these regretful facts, we use our prerogative of friendship and good will (cher:
ished equally toward both bodies) to express our belief that no sufficient reason exists

to justify the future permanence of the disunion which we at present deplore.

Entertaining a warm respect for the officers of both societies, we hereby send you


our friendly greetings, and invite you to commission three of your number from coe or
ganization, making six, to confer with thr ee others appointed by the signers of this: ia
ter, the nine to assemble at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York, on Wednesday, April
6th, at noon, to devise measures for the future union and co-operation of all the friends
of Woman’s Suffrage throughout the Republic. — ™

In issuing this invitation, we claim the privilege of paying the traveling and hotel

expenses of our guests at the conference.

Hoping that our friendly overture will meet your cheerful response, we subscribe

ourselves,

Your well-wishers and co-workers,

Theodore Tilton, %
Frances D. Gage,
John W. Chadwick,
Phebe Cary,
Elizabeth R. Tilton,
Edwin A. Studwell,
Sarah Fisher Ames,
John J. Merritt,
Mary E. Gage:
Francis D. Moulton,
Jeannie M. Wilson,
Martha A. Bradshaw
Matthew Wilson,

and others.

[Before this “ proof copy” is finally printed and sent, the above signers would be glad if you would
authorize them by return mail to append your name, and the names of any other persons friendly to the
proposition.