There was nothing to indicate that this appeal was made to men only, it said plainly that suffrage was a right for which one would fight and face death, and that it could be had at the cost of five minutes’ time.  She was a loyal American citizen, had just conducted a political campaign, was thoroughly conversant with the issues and vitally interested in the results of the election, and certainly competent to vote.  She summoned her three faithful sisters and going to the registry office of the Eighth ward (in a barber’s shop) they asked to be registered.  There was some hesitation, but Miss Anthony read the Fourteenth Amendment and the article in the State constitution in regard to taking the oath, which made no sex-qualification, and at length their names were duly entered by the inspectors, Beverly W. Jones and Edwin F. Marsh, Republicans; William B. Hall, Democrat, objecting.  Miss Anthony then called upon several other women in her ward, urging them to follow her example, and in all fifteen registered.  The evening papers noted this fact and the next day enough women in other wards followed their example to bring the number up to fifty.

The Rochester Express and the Democrat and Chronicle (Republican) noted the circumstance, expressing no opinion, but the Union and Advertiser (Democratic) denounced the proceeding and declared that “if the votes of these women were received the inspectors should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”  This attack was kept up till the day of election, November 5, with the result of so terrorizing the inspectors that all refused to accept the votes of the women who had registered except those in the Eighth ward where the ballots of the fifteen[65] were received.

In a letter to Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony says:  “Well, I have been and gone and done it, positively voted this morning at 7 o’clock, and swore my vote in at that.  Not a jeer, not a rude word, not a disrespectful look has met one woman.  Now if all our suffrage women would work to this end of enforcing the constitutional supremacy of National over State law, what strides we might make from now on; but oh, I’m so tired!  I’ve been on the go constantly for five days, but to good purpose, so all right.  I hope you too voted.”

The news of the acceptance of these votes was sent by the Associated Press to all parts of the country and created great interest and excitement.  There was scarcely a newspaper in the United States which did not contain from one to a dozen editorial comments.  Some of these were flippant or abusive, most of them non-committal but respectful, and many earnest, dignified and commendatory;[66] a few, notably the New York Graphic, contained outrageous cartoons.