Senate Concurrent Resolution 204 Passes!

L-R: Janice Dilg, Century of Action, Eliza Canty-Jones, Oregon Women’s History Consortium, Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland) and Senator Ted Ferriolli (R-John Day).

Yesterday the Oregon Senate unanimously passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 204 commemorating Oregon’s woman suffrage centennial. Senator Ted Ferriolli and Senator Diane Rosenbaum, co-chairs of the Senate Rules Committee, originated and guided the resolution to its successful conclusion.

Senator Ferriolli’s comments in favor of the resolution noted the editorial rivalry between leading suffragist and editor of The New NorthwestAbigail Scott Duniway and her brother Harvey W. Scott, editor of the Oregonian newspaper. Duniway a strong advocate for women’s voting rights, and her brother’s equally ardent opposition to suffrage for women.

Senator Rosenbaum noted the tenacity of Duniway and other suffragists in their 42 year struggle to gain the vote in Oregon. Despite being defeated at the polls five previous times, suffrage supporters rallied one more statewide campaign in 1912. With the majority of in favor of woman suffrage, the word “male” was removed from from the section in Oregon’s Constitution outlining the rules for voting privileges.


“Mrs. F.J. Bailey” (left) and “Sarah A. Evans” (right) debate the question of woman suffrage.

Prior to the vote by the full Senate, Eliza Canty-Jones and Janice Dilg (seen above) presented an excerpt from the Century of Action’s acclaimed mock town hall debate on the question of woman suffrage. “What’s Suffrage Got To Do With It” uses arguments found in news articles, speeches, and editorials the 1912 campaign that express the pros and cons of extending voting rights to the women of the state. Jones portrays anti-suffrage sentiments in the role of Mrs. F.J. Bailey President of the Oregon Association Opposed to the Extension of Suffrage to Women. Dilg expresses pro suffrage arguments as activist and Portland Woman’s Club President Sarah. A. Evans.

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