The CU divided from the NAWSA in December 1913. Before then, the CU worked as an offshoot of the NAWSA's Congressional Committee. On the surface, the division occurred because of controversy over the CU's finances, but other issues were present. The NAWSA did not approve of the CU's anti-party in power policy, which the CU borrowed from the English suffragettes. The years 1913-1919 are filled with misunderstandings and conflict between the two organizations that sprang from the original division. The documents below illustrate the conflict and how it affected the suffrage movement.
Books and Journal Articles
Lunardi, Christine A. From Equal Suffrage to Equal Rights: Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party, 1910-1928. New York: New York University Press, 1986.
Discusses the rift between the National American Woman Suffrage Association and Alice Paul which prompted Paul to create the Congressional Union, and later the National Woman's Party. It includes a comprehensive bibliography and a legislative history of the nineteenth amendment.
Lucy Burns to Anna Howard Shaw. 21 Nov. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 5.
Burns writes in response to Shaw's letter which chastised her for contesting a $1 fine and acting militant. Burns claims that she had no intention of contesting the fine and "I do not feel that Miss Paul or I have had a militant spirit in conducting our work". She states that the President's and Congress' attitude toward suffrage is encouraging and she disputes the allegation that a CU delegation from New Jersey demanded an audience with President Wilson.
Alice Paul to Anna Howard Shaw. 22 Nov. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 5.
Paul writes in response to a misunderstanding regarding fundraising for the 1913 NAWSA convention, which CU is hosting. She apologizes for the confusion and explains that the CU only wants to help.
Anna Howard Shaw to Alice Paul. 6 Dec. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 6.
Shaw requests that Paul's NAWSA Congressional Committee send its records and financial reports to NAWSA headquarters before the convention because NAWSA leaders think the CU is misspending funds.
Anna Howard Shaw to Lucy Burns. 20 Dec. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 6.
Shaw expresses her desire that Burns would realize there is no antagonism between NAWSA and CU.
Harriot Stanton Blatch to Lucy Burns. 22 Dec. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 12.
Blatch denies the CU's request for her to become a member. She wants to focus on getting Western enfranchised women to use their voting power. She explains her strategy, "If we can get that party [Republicans] quite unconsciously to fight our battle for us it will be the end of our long campaign". She writes in reaction to Alice Paul's troubles at the NAWSA convention, "...again and again I have seen vigorous young women come forward, only to be rapped on the head by the so-called leaders of our movement".
Lucy Burns to Anna Howard Shaw. 23 Dec. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 6.
Burns tells Shaw that she understands there is no antagonism between the two organizations. Burns will not follow NAWSA's recommendations not to organize in states without the permission of state NAWSA auxiliary leaders.
Lucy Burns to Anna Howard Shaw. 24 Dec. 1913.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 12.
Burns explains that the CU will continue to work in Washington, D.C. and she is confident that they will cooperate with the NAWSA's newly appointed Congressional Committee.
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Anna Howard Shaw to Alice Paul. 25 Feb. 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 8.
Shaw explains that materials that NAWSA provided to Paul's Congressional Committee are not for the CU's use. She wants Paul to give those materials to the newly appointed Congressional Committee.
Alice Paul to Anna Howard Shaw. 9 March 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 8.
Paul explains that the CU has borrowed most of their materials and cannot really give anything to the Congressional Committee. She has offered to give them the few things that she is able to give.
Antoinette Funk to Alice Paul. 4 May 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 8.
Funk writes in regards to the May 9 suffrage parade. There was a misunderstanding about the NAWSA's plan to march as a group. Paul does not want them to march, but Funk thought Paul wanted them to march. This is another example of the myriad misunderstandings that divided the two groups. "I make no secret of the fact that I have been looking forward to the May 9th demonstration as a time when we might demonstrate to the world that the suffragists were all working along in the same direction, and that our personal differences and beliefs and procedure should be put in the background and that we would present a unified front to the opposition on this day."
Alice Paul to Antoinette Funk. 5 May 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 8.
Paul attempts to clear up the misunderstanding about the demonstration.
Alice Stone Blackwell to Alice Paul. 13 July 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 11.
Blackwell writes in response to Paul's invitation for her to become a member of the CU Advisory Council. Blackwell cannot accept because she does not believe in the CU's party in power policy. She disagrees with the policy, but "the sort of war that is being made upon the Congressional Union fills me with disgust. Please be sure I have not the faintest animosity toward the Union and am always glad when you accomplish a piece of good suffrage work".
Harriet Taylor Upton? to Alice Paul. 3 Aug. 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 13.
Upton warns Paul not to try to defeat Democratic Congressmen in Ohio. She claims the results of such a campaign would be disasterous for the suffrage movement.
Alice Paul to Harriot Stanton Blatch. 3 Sept. 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 13.
Paul writes in response to Blatch's idea that Democrats from suffrage states should put suffrage before party allegiance. Paul feels that Democrats may agree to do so in the beginning, but they will be swayed by their party not to do so.
Harriot Stanton Blatch to Alice Paul. 5 Oct. 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 13.
Blatch does not appreciate the CU's anti-party in power strategy. She believes New York state suffragists owe a great deal to the Democrats. They worked for suffrage, while the state's Republicans worked against it.
Harriet Taylor Upton to Alice Paul. 5 Oct. 1914.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 14.
Upton explains that the CU's anti-Democrat Congressional campaign is hurting the Ohio suffrage campaign.
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Carrie Chapman Catt to Alice Paul. 12 April 1915.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 14.
Catt calls the CU a detriment to the New York state suffrage referendum campaign. She asks the CU to withdraw from New York. "At this time you may connect with disgruntled suffragists here and there, but you are not likely to command the adherence of any of the really efficient ones."
Alice Paul to Carrie Chapman Catt. 15 April 1915.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 14.
In response to the previous letter, Paul claims that Catt misunderstands the CU's plans. Paul is interested in the success of the New York suffrage referendum. She claims that the CU is not organizing in New York until the referendum campaign ends.
Carrie Chapman Catt to Alice Paul. 15 April 1915.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 14.
Catt trusts Paul's promise not to interfere in the New York referendum campaign.
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Carrie Chapman Catt to Auxiliary Presidents of the Enfranchised States. 12 Jan. 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 23.
Catt explains that she took over the NAWSA presidency unwillingly. She wants to clear up the misunderstanding between the NAWSA and CU. The difference between the CU and NAWSA is that CU wants to push a federal amendment immediately, while NAWSA does not think that is possible. She writes, "On this point I do not know which is right". She wants the NAWSA to do more Congressional work and she gives credit to the CU for their previous work. "There is no doubt that the Congressional Union has pushed the federal Amendment to the front no matter what anybody says about it." However, she disagrees with the CU's anti-Democratic work and she hopes that Western women voters will not unite behind that strategy. In spite of their differences, she hopes that the NAWSA and CU can unite behind the federal amendment.
Carrie Chapman Catt to Presidents of State Associations. 15 Feb. 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 24.
Catt attempts to clear up a misunderstanding. According to the letter, the CU is circulating a rumor that the House Judiciary Committee postponed a report on establishing the House Woman Suffrage Committee because the NAWSA wanted the committee to do so. Catt wants to know how the rumor started. "There has been no attack upon the Congressional Union, no criticism, no side charges on the part of the National Association since I was made President, so far as I know. But if the Congressional Union is going to send out reports of this nature with a view to discrediting our Congresional work, it will be necessary for us to make statements as well."
Anne Martin to Carrie Chapman Catt. 4 March 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 24.
This is Martin's response to the above letter. She claims the rumor is not accurate. The rumor was created by an Associated Press story. Martin carefully explains how the misunderstanding occurred. She goes so far as to wonder if the unfriendly Judiciary Committee created the rumor to create a fight between the CU and NAWSA. "I can assure you that there has been no attack upon the National Association or criticism or side-charges." She believes that the NAWSA has not made attacks on the CU either.
Carrie Chapman Catt to Anne Martin. 13 March 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 25.
Catt agrees with Martin that some Judiciary Committee members play the two groups against each other. She explains her understanding of the misunderstanding about the rumor. She also comments on the CU's anti-party tactics: "They are creative of publicity and agitation which may seem good to those who do not look deeply into the situation, but in the long run they antagonize more than they win". She feels the public should understand that the CU and NAWSA are different entities. However, she is not completely antagonistic toward the CU. "While we may differ in methods and tactics we are nevertheless all suffragists desiring the same end."
Carrie Chapman Catt to Anne Martin. 30 March 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 25.
This is the final letter about the misunderstanding. Catt has tried very hard to resolve the conflict between the NAWSA and CU. She expects the two organizations to clash again in the future.
Dora Lewis to Alice Paul. 14 July 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 16.
A copy of Catt's "Winning Plan", in which she states the differences between the CU and NAWSA and explains why NAWSA's policy is better, is enclosed in the letter. Lewis notes several parts of the pamphlet which are not true. She explains these discrepancies in the letter. She has already explained them to Catt. Lewis wants Paul to politely approach Catt to discuss the pamphlet.
Alice Paul to Dora Lewis. 25 July 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 16.
Paul explains that the inaccuracies in the "Winning Plan" pamphlet are not worth responding to. She claims that other CU members have encouraged her to file libel suits against Catt because of her misrepresentations of the CU.
Helen Hill Weed to Carrie Chapman Catt. 30 July 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 30.
Weed is angry about the accusation that the CU's 1914 campaign against Democratic Congressmen was financed by the Republicans. She wants Shaw and Catt to stop the accusations.
Charles Beard to Carrie Chapman Catt. 5 Aug. 1916.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 2, the ERA Years. Box 1, folder 16.
Beard claims that gains suffrage made at the Democratic and Republican national conventions were partially caused by the party members' worrying about the CU/NWP's threats to their re-elections. This letter is one of the few documents that praises the CU/NWP's tactics.
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Carrie Chapman Catt to "An Open Letter to the Public". 13 July 1917.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 45.
Catt explains that the NAWSA and the vast majority of other suffragists disapprove of the CU/NWP's White House pickets. The public should disregard the CU/NWP's tactics and really think about the cause of woman suffrage instead. "The National American Woman Suffrage Association points out that with its membership of two million women representative of all the states, it is the essential agent to be reckoned with; that its work has always been constructive, law-abiding and non-partisan; that every grant of suffrage to the women of this country has been the result of its labors; that its efforts to secure a Federal Suffrage Amendment have never flagged."
Inez A. Applebee to NWP. 5 Sept. 1917.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 48.
Applebee does not want to receive any more announcements from the NWP. She thinks that the White House picket strategy amounts to treason.
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Published Pamphlets, Reports, and Articles
Author unknown. "Shape Plans for Mammoth Parade: Committee Will Have Elaborate Pageant with Symbolic Floats on Pennsylvania Avenue." Woman's Journal 11 Jan. 1913: 9.
SSC. Woman's Journal
The article shows no hint of trouble between Alice Paul and the NAWSA leaders. Instead, it states, "Miss Paul has impressed everyone since coming to Washington as a most happy appointment in this particular position [Congressional Committee Chairman]".
Author unknown. "Congressional Union Makes Fine Showing: Small Band of Women Present Dramatic Features of Year--Have Put Suffrage Question to Congress in Varied and Effective Ways and Made Big Financial Record." Woman's Journal 13 Dec. 1913: 393.
SSC. Woman's Journal
This front page tribute to the CU is surprising because during this time there was much internal strife between CU and NAWSA leaders.
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Author unknown. "National Names New Committee: Congressional Board Plans to Organize Every District in Country for Suffrage." Woman's Journal 31 Jan. 1914: 35.
SSC. Woman's Journal
The new committee will organize within Congressional districts to put pressure on representatives and senators and "they will not work against the Democratic party, but will continue to maintain the strictly non-partisan attitude of the National Association". This statement is a clear response to the CU's anti-party in power strategy.
Author unknown. "Policy of Union Clearly Stated: Will Not Organize Against Wish of States nor Oppose all Democrats." Woman's Journal 31 Jan. 1914: 35.
SSC. Woman's Journal
The last sentence reads, "Whether we look upon the policy of the Congressional Union as wise or unwise, it is well to understand clearly what that policy is".
Author unknown. "National Convention Reaffirms Policies: Shafroth Amendment Upheld--Several New Places Filled on Board--Delegates Jublilant over two new Suffrage States." Woman's Journal 21 Nov. 1914: 302.
SSC. Woman's Journal
Article demonstrates the NAWSA's reaction to the CU's anti-party in power policy. "The following resolution, moved by Mrs. George Bass, of Chicago, was adopted as a declaration of policy.
'Resolved, That the National American Woman Suffrage Association is absolutely opposed to holding any political party responsible for the opinions and acts of its individual members or holding any individual public official or candidate responsible for the action of his party majority on the question of woman suffrage'."
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Author unknown. "National Takes Decisive Stand: Midyear Conference at Chicago Passes Far-Reaching Resolutions Regarding General Policy." Woman's Journal 12 June 1915: 183.
SSC. Woman's Journal
During this conference, the NAWSA passes a resolution to distance itself from the CU. "After long discussion, the following resolutions were adopted on Tuesday:
'Whereas, the Recent attempt of the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage to force an interview with the President of the United States at a most inopportune time has brought condemnation upon all suffragists; and,
Whereas, This organization is in no way connected with the great body of suffragists represented by the National American Woman Suffrage Association, but is a new organization with methods and policies diametrically opposite to those of the National Association;
Be it resolved, That this conference of members of the National American Woman Suffrage Association assembled in Chicago, Illinois, on this the eighth day of June, 1915, do hereby deprecate this action and disclaim any responsibility for or sympathy with the same.
And be it resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States.'"
Blackwell, Alice Stone. "An Unpractical Policy", "Two National Programs", "A Divided Opinion." Woman's Journal 19 June 1915: 194.
SSC. Woman's Journal
Blackwell explains the differences between the CU and NAWSA and states that their methods are so different that suffragists must be members of one organization or the other, not both. The NAWSA respects the sovereignty of state auxiliaries while the CU does not respect it. "People ought not join the Union unless they really believe in its program." "The leaders of the Union mean well...but this very intensity carries with it at times a certain narrowness, an inability to see any point of view but their own." She urges state auxiliaries to educate their members about the differences between the two groups.
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Blackwell, Alice Stone. "The Woman's Party." Woman's Journal 19 Aug. 1916: 268.
SSC. Woman's Journal
Blackwell claims that the Woman's Party's strategy is ineffective.
Shaw, Anna Howard and Mary Ware Dennet. "New Congressional Committee and Headquarters." Publisher and Date Unknown.
LOC. NWP Papers: Group 1, the Suffrage Years. Reel 6.
Article details measures the NAWSA has taken to differentiate the CU from the newly appointed Congressional Committee, at the request of the NAWSA convention.
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