August 28, 1912. While at work this morning, I was haled to the telephone by the message, “Providence is calling!”
“Who is there in Providence who can want to speak to me?” I asked, impatiently. It proved to be Mr. Tuttle, the National Committeeman of Rhode Island for the Progressive Party. He asked me to take charge of the woman’s part of the state campaign. I hesitated a moment. As I waited the voice of the telephone operator, passionless as fate, kept on repeating, “Providence is calling!”
“Perhaps Providence is calling,” I exclaimed. “Mr. Tuttle, I will take the job!”
August 31, 1912. To-day founded the Newport County Woman’s Progressive League. A good deal was accomplished at this meeting in the way of rousing interest. I think now to arrange meetings as soon as the Men’s League is started. Winston Churchill has come out for Roosevelt, glory be! I started to raise the fund for the Woman’s League as I had done a few days before for the Men’s League by telling the story of Mrs. Howe’s dollar. At the New England Woman’s Club, whenever a good cause was presented and a subscription asked for, Mother used to take out a dollar and lay it down with the words;
“I can’t do much but I can give a dollar.” Mrs. Howe’s dollar grew to be proverbial, as it was in many cases the nucleus of great and important funds.
September 4, 1912. To Boston with J. to see the Old State House where his portrait of Mother will hang when finished. A wonderful place for it; I like to think of her there in the midst of that hurrying crowd of State Street. To a meeting at Progressive Headquarters. Saw there the New England Progressive women leaders, among others Mrs. Rublee of Cornish, Miss Huntress of Concord, and Mrs. Bird. Charles Sumner Bird, her husband, is the Progressive candidate for Governor of Massachusetts. He is a splendid man. The Massachusetts campaign is well planned and now in full swing. The men and women leaders are of the best caliber. The women will put through their job of raising ten thousand dollars to pay for the campaign expenses.
September 6, 1912. Mr. Tuttle tells me that they have as yet no campaign funds from the National Committee. I see that we must raise the money for our own expenses and fight hard to get it. Miss Cora Mitchell asks me to take the presidency of the Newport County Suffrage League. I delayed decision but suppose I shall in the end accept, unless we can find another person. With the heavy work I have undertaken as secretary of the Art Association and for the Progressive Party, this seems the last straw.
September 9, 1912. A good Bull Moose meeting of women at Mrs. Hughes’. Twenty-five present; all joined the League. We finally got our committee together. Three hundred and fifty dollars were pledged.
September 21, 1912. To Providence for the State Convention; the Executive Committee plus a committee of delegates elected by the enrolled members of the Progressive Party throughout the State. There were twenty-five men, I was the only woman present. The Reverend Boley Greene opened the meeting with prayer. We sat from 7.30 to 11.30, working on the state platform.
September 26, 1912. To Providence for the great Progressive meeting at Infantry Hall. I spoke briefly between the two famous and popular speakers, Mr. Foulke, the old war horse of Indiana, and Jacob Riis. I was greeted with the “Battle Hymn”, the audience rising and singing the Glory Halleluiah with a will. It was very moving and I felt it deeply. It is all for Mother—and I stand and take her honors, while she—