Getting the word out to the public was no simple accomplishment at the turn of the 20th century. Bold speaking in public was a novelty and it was apt to draw large crowds. Photo: Bain Collection, Library of Congress.

The urgency to step up to the plate remains an issue today. An Associated Press article published on August 26th this year summed up the issue: “Yet in spite of celebrations planned today for Women’s Equality Day, marking the adoption of the 19th amendment in 1920, American women’s share of high-level political power still lags behind scores of other nations.”