Ledger-Enquirer from Columbus, Georgia • B1

By VIRGINIA CAUSEY Special to the Ledger-Enquirer Her Linwood Cemetery headstone reads: Helen Augusta Howard May 11, 1865 June 10, 1934 Altruist, artist, philosopher, he most intriguing word is the last: The mystery behind that word hooked me when I first read it 30 years ago. The enigmatic monument hides anoth- er mystery. It gives no clue that Augusta Howard led a revolution a century ago: the woman suffrage movement in Geor- gia. She was a remarkable woman whose life we should ponder as we commem- orate her 150th birthday. She paved the way for other women to gain power, yet her own life was tragically constrained.

In 1890, Augusta Howard founded the Georgia Woman Suffrage Association (GWSA). One of the mysteries is why she became involved in what was then a radical and unfeminine cause. Her fam- ily was one of finest. Her grandfather John Howard built the first dam across the Chattahoochee, opened the first textile mill, and constructed the first railroad in Columbus. Her great- uncle Seaborn Jones built the beautiful mansion St.

Elmo. Her cousin was Au- gusta Evans, author of the popular novel of the same name. The youngest of 15 children, Augusta grew up at Sherwood Hall, near Jordan High School. Though her fami- ly was elite in lineage, hard times befell them. Her father died when Augusta was a small child and the family wealth de- clined dramatically.

This reversal in fortune led to her in- terest in feminism. Her sister explained: need of serious minded wom- en in world affairs was forced upon Miss attention through no woman suffrage paper or literature, whatsoever. She had seen none. Her year- ly inescapable taxes without representa- tion compelled her realization of gross injustices done hundreds of thousands of women assisting in supporting a gov- ernment, politically classing them with MINORS, LUNATICS, TRAITORS, and Augusta decided in 1890 to form a so- ciety for political voice. The first members were Augusta, her moth- er, and four of her sisters.

The Howards affiliated their society with the National American Woman Suffrage Association led by Susan B. Anthony. Though the GWSA grew slowly in its first four years, claiming only 20 mem- bers by 1894, most prom- inent businessman G. Gunby Jordan supported the cause. He wrote: has always seemed to me to follow as a se- quence that woman as a taxpayer should have her full share in the selection of the gatherer of these funds, and in say- ing what disposition should be made of them.

If the women of this country de- sire suffrage, it is simple justice to accord it to Columbus did not welcome this suf- frage association. Most men and wom- en considered suffragists Men ridiculed the notion of equal rights for women, and women maintained they had all the rights they wanted. Car- toons depicted suffragists as mascu- line and emasculating. Augusta wrote in 1893 that the at Columbus of the most malignant and un- derhand sort, scrupling not at insult, ly- ing, and slander, in hope of intimidat- ing the few advocates of equal Her harshest critics were family mem- bers. Her older sisters and two broth- ers strongly opposed suffrage and her in- volvement in the movement.

A suffrage leader later characterized her brothers as in manifesting oppo- sition and dislike for woman Augusta found herself the object of ridi- cule in Columbus. The woman suffrage issue would have been enough, but she also experimented with wearing trou- sers and shorter skirts early in the cen- tury, she was a vegetarian and an atheist, she dabbled in spiritualism, she never married all considered eccentricities by her neighbors. greatest accomplishment as president of the GWSA was bringing the annual convention of the NAWSA to Atlanta in 1895. Augusta and her sis- ters extended the invitation at the 1894 convention in Washington. Anthony wanted to keep the convention there to put pressure on Congress, but Augusta won the day by arguing that the publici- ty would be invaluable for the organiza- tion: a great many of them would come to laugh, many of them would go away with NAWSA membership tick- ets in their She shrewdly ob- served, believe that an effort would be made by Atlanta and the prominent business men to make the convention a successful one.

While Atlanta is not in sympathy with the movement, she is al- ways ready to help The con- vention voted to go South. Augusta and her sisters made most of the arrangements and bore the entire expense of the convention, a cost of $600. The con- vention provoked quite a bit of press cov- erage, mostly opposing and ridiculing the idea of women voting. The big state papers covered the convention, but none editori- ally supported the right of women to vote. The Columbus Ledger became more and more supportive over the years, eventual- ly allowing a regular pro-suffrage column called The Columbus Enquirer never supported suffrage.

After the convention, NAWSA offi- cers visited the Howard sisters at Sher- wood Hall. Anthony, a former abolition- ist, nearly froze in the finding the fireplaces ly touched the frigid air of the But her reception was warm: hearts of the Howards are great and gave us a cordial Still, she sensed trag- edy lurking. She realized the older sib- lings opposed rights. She wrote FORUM Today in history EDITORIAL: MARRIAGE RULING ALTERS U.S. LEGAL LANDSCAPE.

B2 Today is Sunday, June 28, the 179th day of 2015. There are 186 days left. On this date: In 1838, Queen Victoria was crowned in Westminster Abbey. In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, were shot to death in Sarajevo by Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip an act which sparked World War I. In 1964, civil rights activist Malcolm declared, want equality by any means during the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity in New York.

In 1975, screenwriter, producer and actor Rod Serling, 50, creator of Twilight died in Rochester, N.Y. Thought for Today, glory of each generation is to make its own Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood, American social reformer (1830-1917). SECTION June 28, 2015 SUNDAY Commentary: Mary Sanchez Columbus Curious local monument marks the final resting place of an extraordinary Columbus woman Cartoons (above, left) depicted suffragists like Augusta Howard (top left) as masculine and emasculating. Howard grew up at Sherwood Hall, near the present-day site of Jordan High School. SEE HOWARD, B3 The U.S.

Supreme ruling on the Affordable Care Act has left the most ardent detrac- tors with not much more than a hospital gown for cover. King v. Burwell may be the last legal assault on the right bete noire. If the Republicans still hope to quash the health care re- form, going to have to elect a Congress and a chief executive to peal and it. In the upcoming elections, Repub- licans will have to make a convinc- ing claim that they have a better plan to supplant Obamacare.

(Spoiler alert: They have any plan at all, and they probably by November 2016.) Sure, they will continue to throw darts at Obamacare, but they will be hard- pressed to demonstrate that they are more interested in uplifting the quality of healthcare for all Americans than in playing political games. clear that Republicans consider the high 6-3 decision a bitter defeat. In the hours after it was announced, Re- publican frustration was palpable. GOP presidential candidate and for- mer U.S. Sen.

Rick Santorum, in a state- ment echoed by his colleagues vying for the nomination, called the ruling another reminder that if we are to rid our nation of Obamacare once and for all, we need to elect a conservative presi- dent prepared to lead on day Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, a Repub- lican, sputtered about a take- over of health care forced down the throats of the American Three years ago, Chief Justice John court upheld the constitution- ality of individual man- date feature. Now, the court has given its blessing to the intent of the Affordable Care Act. The case turned on some erroneous- ly drafted language that appeared to lim- it federal subsidies to people in those states that had set up insurance ex- changes. That clause, read in the con- text, contradicts the intent of the law.

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts wrote: passed the Af- fordable Care Act to improve health in- surance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the act in a way that is consistent with the for- mer, and avoids the Roberts acknowledged the regulations on in- surers (such as. requiring them to cover Supreme Court ruling spared us a cataclysm SEE SANCHEZ, B3.