The question might be asked what was the use in such a parade. The enemies of equal suffrage would say pure notoriety on the part of the participants—those who planned it say that the pageant was to demonstrate the spiritual ideals of their party and the procession to show their strength and both would cause the large number of people assembled at the inauguration to think and to talk about the subject. And so great is their faith in the equity of their cause that they are confident in its final triumph when once brought fully to the minds of all people

The newspaper men who counted the marchers reported 2,000 women in the pageant and 10,000 in the procession. The crowd who witnessed it was near 160,000 which made it difficult to obtain accurate numbers.

It has been said of the pioneers in the work that no one who knew them could doubt their sincerity but that they were impractical idealists. On the altar of God they have consecrate their lives, with their time, talent, social positions and money to the cause of the political freedom of half the human race, who have been in bondage for thousands of years because might has made right. The list of the names honored and famous in America today connected with this event would be a long one—so long that only a comparative few can be mentioned or the mind would weary in reading them. The Grand Marshal was Mrs. Burleson of Texas, a niece of the newly appointed Postmaster General. Among others were Miss Julia Lathrop, Mrs. Harvey Wiley, Mrs. and Miss LaFollette, Miss Flora Wilson, daughter of the recent Secretary of Agriculture, Miss Jane Delano, chairman of the Red Cross Commission, Mrs. Arthur E. Johnson, who is prominent in the D. C. circles, Mrs. Champ Clark and Miss Clark, Mrs. Owen Kildaire and Mrs. Helen Gardiner and Miss Mary Shaw all three well known writers, Miss Hazel Mackaye, Miss Florence Fleming Noyes and Nordica. Miss Mary Johnston and Miss Helen Keller spoke at one of the meetings. Fifty Wellesley girls were among the marchers and a large number of the leaders were graduates of Vassar and many times also from the German schools. Congressmen from several States took part—among whom Richard Pearson Hobson was most prominent.

Sunday afternoon preceding the parade a mass meeting was held in Columbia theater, which was crowed to standing room. Mrs. Blatch president. Miss Inez Milholland, Mrs. Catt, Mrs. Younger, of Californis, spoke and then the Pilgrims were introduced. Gen. Rosalie Jones is popular with all who meet her. The Pilgrims were of all ages from handsome young women to grey haired grandmothers. A fine looking young man with his mother was with them all the way. After the short speeches over $3,000 was raised, many giving from one hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars.

The parade lasted from 3 to 6:30 p.m. and was a mile long. Sec. McVeigh gave permission for the use of the Treasury steps and Congress had ordered the streets cleared and all cars and traffic stopped. On the Treasury steps took place an allegory in which Columbia summons Justice Charity, Liberty, Peace and Hope to her side, to review this new crusade for women. Appropriate music, Handel’s Largo, March from Aida, Lohengrin, Elsa’s Dream, Dvorak and Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song” accompanying the action.

In the parade following officers and ushers came floats representing the foreign countries where women have full suffrage—Norway, Finland, New Zealand and Australia. Then partial suffrage in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Great Britain and Belgium was shown. Then countries where women are working for suffrage and a float representing famous women from the Bible.

The pioneers in automobiles followed. Next a mounted brigade was followed by Marchers, who were farmers, home makers, nurses, college women, lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, wage-earners, government clerks business women, teachers, social workers, librarians, writers, actresses, artists and musicians. Then a band of Quakers appeared. After them men and women from the nine States having full suffrage. Next the National Men’s League. Then came four golden chariots showing the four States in which bills for suffrage had passed both houses this winter, Montana, Nevada, New York, South Dakota. The delegations from the remaining States followed carrying their State banners and wearing scarfs. A long line of automobiles brought up the rear.

Of all the State delegations that from Illinois was the finest. It came from Chicago in a private car with its own band and with a fine white and gold and purple uniform. The women in it were tall and fine looking and well drilled.

Some of the States had but few representatives while others as New York and Pennsylvania had hundreds. West Virginia had twenty or more. Mrs. P. C. McBee, of Fairmont, and Miss Ellen D. Hoge, of Wheeling, and a niece of Bishop Penick, carried the West Virginia banner of green and white and purple. Mrs. Jessie Manley, Mrs. Cora Bishop, Mrs. Allie Haymond, Mrs. B. B. Ritchie, Mrs. Annie Cunningham, Mrs. A. C. Boyd of Wheeling, Mrs. Blue of Martinsburg, Mrs. Riley, Bridgeport, Mrs. Schroeder of Grafton, Mrs. Patterson and Miss Haymond of Sutton were there. Dr. Harriet Jones, of Wheeling, and Dr. Virginia McCune, of Martinsburg, marched with the doctors and Miss Bennett, of Weston was in the cavalry. The home people all declared that they “had the times of their lives” and they “would not have missed it for the world.”

The great misfortune of all parties was the failure of the police to keep the streets clear. West Virginia was well in the rear of the procession and by the time they reached the scene of disturbance the cavalry from Ft. Meyer had arrived and except for smart remarks and having to pass through the mass of humanity in the space of the street car track were not inconvenienced. Some one called out, “West Virginia! Where is West Virginia? Oh, I know. It is that dirty, coal place.”

When the men’s brigade passed a voice cried “Here come the heroes.” Some school boys had boasted that they would bring mice to frighten the women but the mob was so dense that a policeman said “If they bring them, the Lord help them mice.” Two hundred persons were taken to the hospital crushed and trampled by the crowd. As in the inaugural parade good seats sold for as high as $7.

Not many years ago a noticeable feature of any equal suffrage gathering was the fact that almost without exception the women were grey haired. How the middle-aged women are taking their place. Although many grandmothers were there—one 83 years old—many mothers marched by the sides of their daughters.

One old lady remarked that in the days to come women will not boast of being D. A. R.s but of being Daughters of the Suffrage Pioneers and she was leaving her record as an inheritance to her granddaughters.

A SUFFRAGIST.