Judge, 1919-11-22 · page 7 of 36
Judge — November 22, 1919 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Explanation for Modern Readers This is satirical commentary on women's suffrage activism, specifically mocking the ineffectiveness of a poorly-attended suffrage meeting. Miss C. organized what should have been a prominent gathering in an exclusive neighborhood, but only one attendee (Mrs. G.) showed up. To avoid embarrassment before the newspaper reporter sent to cover the event, Miss C. and Mrs. G. deceived her by claiming a meeting was "in progress" while actually holding a fake election of absent women who never consented to be nominated. The satire targets the disconnect between suffragists' grand ambitions and their actual grassroots support—and their willingness to fabricate success rather than honestly report failure to the press. The title "A Reporter Hoodwinked" emphasizes the deception as the story's focal point. This reflects early-20th-century skepticism about women's political organizing and their credibility.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Drawn by J. Conacuen Ow tHe Prump Lines Condu to Engincer—Well, Bill! W here. Where'll we go next? A Reporter Hoodwinked By Caroutne KatTZeNnsTEIN (Executive Secretary, Pennsylvania Branch, National Woman's Party.) ISS C., a very ardent suffragist in a large, but conservative city, called a suffrage meeting to be held at her house, which was situated in an exclusive section. This should have brought a crowd, but it didn’t. Just one lone woman came—Mrs. G. As the meeting had been sufficiently advertised to attract the attention of the editor of an afternoon paper, a reporter was sent to cover the meeting. It was a bleak day, and the long car-ride had so chilled the reporter that she was glad to accept the hospitality of Miss C., and sit by a snug little gas radiator in the hall. While the reporter was thus temporarily disposed of, Miss C. went in to pour out to her audience of one the anguish of her heart and the humiliation of her spirit! Mrs, G.’s quick wit saved the day. She suggested that her hostess tell the reporter that the meeting was in progress and could not be interrupted At the same time, Miss C. was advised to give the re- porter the results of the hurried election that she and Mrs. G. had held and to calm herself with the hope that the reporter would forget to come in or would be forced to go on another assignment. The hope proved a happy reality! The absent ladies, who had been elected without their knowledge or consent and who could not the honor, did not notify the press of their inability serve, and woman suffrage moved on to its next obstacle. 11-2219