Part 2 of 3

Victories and defeats

By Jerry Harrington

 

When Carrie Chapman Catt became president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) in 1900, she emerged as more than merely an American leader for the cause of women’s voting rights. She expanded the issue of female suffrage onto the international stage. In 1902, she was the leading force behind the creation of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, meeting in Washington, D.C., with representatives from Europe and South America. This led to another gathering in Berlin two years later, judged by most to be stunning success.

 

Having dazzled all with her vision and leadership, Catt faced a personal challenge when her second husband took ill and she resigned as president of the NAWSA to care for him full-time. This ended when he died in October of 1905. Catt was severely shaken by his death and for several weeks did little but mourn.

 

Further family deaths followed. Catt returned to Charles City to nurse her ailing mother. At the same time, Catt’s brother died from a disease he had picked up in the Philippines and her mother soon followed him later in 1907.

 

These personal tragedies had a severe impact on Catt and sidelined her for several years, but as 1908 began, this powerful voice for the women’s suffrage movement began to stir. Bit by bit, she issued positive public statements about the suffrage movement in the United States and throughout the world. In fact, she believed, the international movement was giving aid to the American one.

 

“Suffrage will ultimately triumph here as a result of its triumph in other countries,” she said.

 

The national spokesperson for the woman’s vote was coming back.

 

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