Existing comment:
First National Suffrage Parade
After weeks of controversy and logistics, the first national suffrage parade began in a capital city brimming with media and visitors for the next day's inauguration. Nine bands, four mounted brigades, twenty-four floats, and an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 costumed marchers assembled in a procession matching the dignity, beauty, and imagery of the illustrated souvenir program. All was nearly lost, however, when police failed to protect the parade route, and crowds of rowdy and inebriated men cursed, threatened, and mobbed the marchers, injuring more than 300 suffragists, before a cavalry unit restored order. |