These Ladies Will No Longer Be in Waiting

On May 14, Life & Style ran a story about Ladies-in-the-Bathtub, the marble statue of three famous suffragettes that has been sitting in the basement of the U.S. Capitol ever since a Congress of men consigned it there 75 years ago.

The women are on their way.

Despite foot-dragging, Congress has finally voted to move the statue depicting Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott to the Rotunda, where it was originally destined in 1921.

Several Republican women in the House of Representatives have complained that public funds should not be used to move the 13-ton Italian marble sculpture to the Rotunda. Some of them also weren’t crazy about the stoic look of the figures. But increasing publicity about the controversy fueled a fund-raising drive that raised $75,000 to pay for the relocation.

Congress passed a resolution authorizing the move just hours before the 104th Congress adjourned earlier this month. Contractors are expected to have it in place--among the other Rotunda statues honoring only men--by Nov. 19 when a special rededication ceremony will be held.

“The statue was in the basement long enough. This is not just success for the 52% of Americans who owe their right to vote to these women . . . this is success for all Americans,� said Karen Staser, co-chair of the Women’s Suffrage Statue Campaign.