p.1

8I Selling-Hirsch Bldg, Portland, Oregon, Dec. 26, '07

Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood,

My dear Friend:- Yours of the 20th at hand. I am glad that Mr.
Keifer is ready to commit himself at all times to the general principle
of Woman Suffrage, and he does not say that he is absolutely certain that
Congress has no power to regulate suffrage in the States, only that that
is his present opinion. I have therefore written him asking attention to
copy of Hearing which I enclosed, marking especially the points that touch
on this. You will remember that the Supreme Court in the Yarbrough case
said that the right to vote depended on the constitution of the U.S.
and "The principle, however, that the protection of the exercise of the
right is within the power of Congress is as necessary to the right of
other citizens to vote as to the colored citizens, etc." I do not see how
any man who will candidly go over the points in that hearing, the original
constitution and Mr. Madison's explanation of why the power was reserved
to Congress to protect the citizen's right to vote for members of the H.
of R. the decision that women are citizens, and the several decisions that
citizenship gives the right of suffrage, and all the rest of it. I hope
we may have him with us yet. It only shows the need of having presented
our argument in a concise shape and sending it with a letter to every
member of Congress we want to reach. I suppose they nevr [never] pretend to read
the arguments that are made before committees, unless it is about some-
thing they want to make a speech about.

I am more and more devoted to the idea of pushing this Federal
Suffrage work and if the time ever should come when our [women?] would want
something to demonstrate over this would be the thing for it is just
what the women are making a fuss about in England. It will do to
make the foundation of a general suffrage speech at any place and time
and unless I should be taking part in a campaign where there was some
definite object in view I shall hereafter take this as my subject. The
only thing for the Ass'n to decide is just how to formulate and utilize
the sentiment which would and could be made in this way. Is it worth while
for me to classify and copy again the names we have already for our bill.
We have some additional to those which have been used before. It almost
seems to me it would be best to hold on to the names, get as many more as
possible, and then when it shall have reached gigantic proportions use
them not only with Congress, but in Congressional campaigns to help elect
memebers who would be pledged to carry such a measure. Oh, for some one with
capital who would back up this work as I see it ought to be done.

Is not Hon. Burton French in Congress this year. It seems to
as long as he is in Congress he is the one to introduce our bill, as he
is willing and able to speak for it and does not say, "introduced by request"
What do you think of not putting it in the Senate before the Nationals
have had their hearing and have gone. I am rather feeling that the lions
in the way of all of us will prevent having an advantageous hearing very
early, but it seems as if we might plan one later, say in May. Mrs. Brown
and I might plan some suffrage work together in Wis. or on the way to
Washington that might help us to make our way there. I am holding to the
thought that I may be able to go to the International meeting in Holland in
June, and I am going to try to get Mrs. Brown to go with me. I shall when
our spring opens and things look up a bit here try and sell my cottage and
lots and free myself from debt at any sacrifice. and also get some money to
make this trip with. I want to get to Wis. sometime this summer, for I
have two nieces who are going to be married this year, just when I do not
know. I do not know what is to become of the TRIBUNE. The responses
to the statements of account which I am now sending out will determine.
I see I did not finish my idea about having the bill put in the Senate lat r. [later.]
It is because if it goes in before the National hearing it will be included
in the Hearing given to the National, and we shall get no other hearing an
no show on it. Then I think later when the National doings in January are
over we might be able to work up an interest later. I shall say nothing
in the TRIBUNE about the F.E.S.A. until after that Nat'l hearing in [January]