The Woman’s Party could wait no longer.
VI
BURNING THE PRESIDENT’S WORDS
At half-past four on Tuesday afternoon, August 6, a line of nearly one hundred women emerged from Headquarters, crossed the other side of the street to the Park; turned into Pennsylvania Avenue. At the head of the long line floated the red, white, and blue of the American flag carried by Hazel Hunkins. Behind it came, banner after banner and banner after banner, the purple, white, and gold of the National Woman’s Party tri-color. The line proceeded along Pennsylvania Avenue until it came to the statue of Lafayette just opposite the east gate of the White House. All along the way, the crowds cheered and applauded the women; soldiers and sailors saluted the red, white, and blue as it passed.
At the Lafayette monument, two banner bearers emerged from the group; and stationed themselves on the platform at the base of the statue.
One of them, Mary Gertrude Fendall, bore Inez Milholland’s banner, inscribed with her memorable last words:
HOW LONG MUST WOMEN WAIT FOR LIBERTY?
The other, borne by Clara Wold and Blanche McPherson, carried what was really the message of the meeting:
WE PROTEST AGAINST THE CONTINUED DISFRANCHISEMENT
OF AMERICAN WOMEN, FOR WHICH THE PRESIDENT OF THE