Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Event, People, Site

Location

308 E Main St, Smithtown, NY 11787, USA

Lat/Long

40.88431, -73.2458

Grant Recipient

Town of Smithtown

In May 1912, suffragists Rosalie Gardiner Jones and Elisabeth Freeman embarked on a week-long campaign tour of Long Island in support of women’s right to vote. The women traveled in a horse-drawn wagon that was painted yellow and according to the May 17, 1912 edition of the Suffolk County News, was covered with arguments for women’s suffrage, such as:

“A woman has as much right to vote as to pay taxes. The ballot helps working men, why not working women? There are 7,000,000 in the U.S. A woman leaves her home to go to market, why not vote? It takes less time.”

Jones and Freeman stopped to make speeches, imploring Long Islanders to support women’s right to vote. The women also sold items along the way, including suffrage banners, buttons, and postcards to raise money for their cause. The May 12, 1912 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle quoted Jones describing aspects of their Long Island suffrage tour:

“The men and boys were awfully nice. They had cheers instead of jeers for us and they helped us out at every stop. One would hold our horse while others helped us to put up the little portable platform we carried with us. Judging from the reception we received I think we’ve gained a lot of recruits.”