On this date in 1909, a stunning announcement by North Dakota’s Secretary of State hit the newspapers. Alfred Blaisdell and his wife had just returned from a trip to England. At the time, Great Britain was in the midst of massive demonstrations demanding the right to vote for women. Blaisdell was impressed. On returning to the United States he announced, “I am more in favor of woman suffrage than ever before.”
Blaisdell acknowledged that his views were heavily influenced by the demonstrations he had witnessed in London. He was also influenced by the large number of men who turned out in support of the women. He called it “surprising” that so many men would associate themselves with the women in the movement. He said this factor stood out the most to him, even more so than the women who were willing to risk arrest, injury, and even death.
It was Blaisdell’s opinion that the women’s suffrage movement would soon spread to the United States. He noted that English women were “more domestic” than the strong, independent women of America. With the movement inspiring such widespread support in England, Blaisdell was confident that American women would not be left behind.
British suffragettes originally relied on peaceful methods like holding public meetings and writing letters, but as their frustration grew, the methods became less peaceful. Shortly before Blaisdell’s visit, 250,000 people participated in a demonstration in London. When the Prime Minister refused to meet with them, women began smashing windows in Downing Street. They tied themselves to railings and vowed not to leave until they got the vote. While Blaisdell was in London, women who had been arrested were participating in a hunger strike. Blaisdell could see the writing on the wall.
While Blaisdell was quite certain that women’s suffrage was a force that could not be denied, his wife was not so certain. Mrs. Blaisdell, described in the newspapers as “a pretty and demure young woman,” was not a supporter of the movement. She asserted, “I am not a woman suffragette.” She did, however, admit that joining such a movement “would give me something to do.”
Dakota Datebook by Carole Butcher
Sources:
Ward County Independent. “Blaisdell in Favor of Votes for Women.” Hope, ND. 8 July 1909. Page 1.
Feminism in the 20th Century. “British Suffrage Movement.” https://feminisminthe20thcentury.weebly.com/british-suffrage-movement.html Accessed 12 June 2019.
