Wheeling, W. Va., January 6, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
The Suffrage League of Ohio County, representing the sentiment of at least 5,000 loyal American women, urges that the Woman Suffrage Committee report favorably the Federal suffrage amendment.
Mrs. James B. Taney, Jr.
Wheeling, W. Va., January 6, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
If for no other reason I earnestly hope that because of the quick, loyal, and faithful service of the women in answer to their country’s call you will do all in your power to report favorably on the Federal suffrage amendment.
Elizabeth I. Cummins
Parkersburg, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Parkersburg, W. Va., urges the immediate passage of the national Federal amendment for woman suffrage.
Mrs. D. C. Tabler, Chairman Suffrage Committee
Huntington, W. Va., January 9, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
With all the strength of our voteless might and a firm belief in the views expressed by President Wilson to the French people concerning right of expression of those who are governed we urge you to favorably report woman suffrage.
Mesdames Amos, Archer, Aylsworth, Banks, Blackwood, Beach, Beckham, Baker, Bent, Blair, Bowling, Beebe, Blake, Bastion, Backus, Burgess, Binns, Buckner, Blankenship, Billups, Burks, Brandebury, Bay, Beckner, Barton, Blake, Breese, Baker, Clicoat, Callaway, Cammack, O’Connor, Phillips, Pelot, Pyles, Perry, Poteet, Pyle, Pifer, Rader, Richardson, Roberts, Rickets, Rogers, Reckard, Rose, Rolph, Ross, Robinson, Reed, Staats, Sikes, Smith, Simpson, Sampson, Sims, Snell, Switzer, Swann, Stevenson, Stafford, Snow, Spriggs, Sigler, Spessard, Scott, Seligman, Sayre, Smalley, Smith, Stewart, Saunders, Spillman, Slean, Simpson, Sattes, Soothman, Trout, Tyree, Turney, Tinsley, Thornburg, Terry, Venable, Vanvleck, Wingett, Wilmoth, Waddell, Williams, Withroe, Whittaker, Wels, Chambers, Chadwick, Chapman, Clark, Comstock, Combs, Dabney, Daniel, Darling, Davis, Day, Dickey, Dickson, Douthat, Duncan, Dunfee, Edgington, Firth, Flesher,, Flint, Frampton, Franklin, Fuller, Fortiscu, Gardner, Gang, Gaujot, Gibson, Gillespie, Gilmore, Gross, Green, Grear, Greenwood, Graves, Garland, Harvey, Hagen, Hankey, Harer, Harold, Harpold, Haworth, Henking, Hilton, Huntington, Hutchinson, Haddox, Huff, Holderby, Humphreys, Henson, Inman, Johnson, Kahler, Kessler, King, Kincaid, Kneff, Kemper, Keatley, Larimore, Lawson, Lee, Lilly, Lowther, Lewis, Maine, Mann, Martin, Miller, Minter, Morris, Moses, Moore, McClelland, McNeer, McMillen, McIntosh, McDonald, Neace, Nelson, Neale, Newman, Night, Noel, Norvell, and Oberholtzer.
Morgantown, W. Va., January 8, 1918.
Hon. J. E. Raker,
Morgan District Equal Suffrage Association, membership 200, urgently request your committee to report favorable Federal suffrage amendment.
Mrs. C. P. Higby, President
Morgantown, W. Va., January 9, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
Five hundred White Ribboners ask favor report for Federal suffrage amendment.
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
Parkersburg, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
Sir: The vote is a means of education of which women at this critical time should not be deprived. Every move for the education of the masses, every move for democracy, every more [sic] for world progress is an added blow to the enemy which this country and our allies are fighting.
We believe that the mere psychological and immediate effect of the passage of the Federal amendment upon the women of this country, in arousing them to a greater interest in world affairs, a greater action and a greater solidarity, would be invaluable.
To delay the passage of the Federal amendment is to delay that for which our soldiers are giving their lives. To miss one single opportunity which will further the cause of right against might throughout the world is to display a lack of wisdom which is unpardonable if not treasonable.
These are no idle words. They are the earnest, sincere words of multitudes of women in this State of West Virginia who urge that each and every member of your committee be astute enough, forward looking enough, wise enough to vote now for the passage of the national amendment for woman suffrage.
Very sincerely, yours,
Parkersburg Equal Suffrage Association,
Telegrams favoring the amendment have been sent you to-day by Mr. E. M. Gilkeson, president board of commerce; Loyal Gilbert, mayor; and W. E. Strout, acting postmaster.
Huntington, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
Dear Sir: I was born within 60 miles of the birthplace of our President, and come from the same liberty-loving stock. My grandparents, I believe, fought for my liberty as well as that for the sons of others. No son represents my father, who was the pioneer for woman suffrage in the western half of Virginia 60 years ago, which it was unheard of. He was a lawyer, Gen. William Skeen, who claimed that the Virginia laws concerning women were relics of the “iron” or “stone” age. He planned to educate his daughters in the profession of law and send them “West, for the East is no place for fair treatment of women.”
Can it be possible that you, a lawyer of the West, will throw your influence, on January 10, as a brake on the wheel of progress?
Yours, respectfully,
Mary Skeen Venable.
Huntington, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
Dear Sir: The women of West Virginia are confidently trusting that the Sixty-fifth Congress can not but recognize this as the fitting hour in which to do justice to American women, and that it will add the Federal amendment for woman suffrage to its historic record.
It will surely be a moment that coming generations will forever remember with a measure of the same veneration as we hold for those who could not fail humanity when the Declaration of Independence was at stake.
In the great days yet to come for our beloved country, every man and every woman will rejoice that their voice or pen did not for one second stay this long-delayed part and parcel of our democracy.
Hoping and praying for victory on the 10th, I am
Most sincerely,
Irene M. Flint,
West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs,
The Hon. John E. Raker,
Dear Sir: The West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs officially indorsed the Susan B. Anthony amendment at its last annual session in October, and these 3,000 representative women of our State have recommended and included it regularly in their resolutions for many years at their various meetings. As president of the oldest woman’s club in Wheeling, which is the mother of West Virginia Federation, and as chairman of education, I urge the Committee on Woman Suffrage to report favorably to Congress on this matter January 10.
I do hope that you will realize how deeply we feel about it and how greatly we appreciate your efforts in our behalf.
Most sincerely, your,
Angie Graham Kimberland.
Huntington, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. J. E. Raker,
Dear Sir: We are vitally interested in the suffrage amendment to be reported by your committee on the 10th.
As self-supporting women, who are taxpayers and now called upon to contribute directly to war through income taxes, support of Red Cross, and relief work. In addition to giving up of dear ones to the cause of liberty for which our country is fighting, we feel that it is only our just dues that the Constitution shall now be broadened to bring the same justice to all of its people and relieve it of the odium of fighting for something which is not in itself a true democracy. We ask your sincere efforts to secure the passage of this amendment giving to American men and women the privilege of facing the world as a nation “of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Yours, very truly,
Virginia Smith.
Huntington, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
Dear Sir: I am told that you have said that thousands of southern women do not want the vote. Can it be possible that you think the educated portion of the women do not recognize the spirit of justice through equality which led to the Revolution? This same spirit of liberty has reached necessity for expansion into woman franchise in to-day’s era.
It is not to be counted against our forefathers that in pioneer days they thought of other legislation, but it will be a crime in the Hun list if the Sixty-fifth Congress votes down liberty at home and fights for it for the French and Russian women.
Respectfully, yours,
Mrs. J. B. Purcell.
Hon. John E. Raker,
My Dear Mr. Raker: Being very active in club work in this section of the state, I have opportunity to know the general mind of our women on the suffrage question.
The women who are working to win the war along all other lines are anxious to have the power of suffrage added to their weapons; they realize the absolute need of it.
We should like to urge that everything possible to done to pass the Federal amendment.
We could work so much better if our political hands were free.
Mrs. C. F. Schroeder,
Wheeling, W. Va., January 7, 1918.
Hon. John E. Raker,
My Dear Mr. Raker: I beg to inclose copy of resolution (urging the passage of the Federal suffrage amendment) which was unanimously adopted by the West Virginia State Federation of Woman’s Clubs assembled in its fourteenth annual convention at Charleston, W. Va., October 16 to 19, 1917.
The federation represents clubs and organizations throughout the State and its unanimous action on this question should prove that women do want the ballot.
Very sincerely, yours,
Mrs. E. S. Romie.
Whereas a special committee on woman suffrage has been recently appointed by Congress—a step in advance of any progress made during the last 35 years; and
Whereas this committee will report at the next session of Congress, December, 1917; Therefore be it
Resolved, That the West Virginia Federation of Woman’s Clubs, in convention assembled, do hereby reaffirm its position on the subject of woman suffrage; and be it further
Resolved. That the West Virginia Federation of Woman’s Clubs do indorse the Federal amendment to the Constitution of the United States extending the right of franchise to women; and be it further
Resolved, That we very earnestly urge our Senators and Representatives in Congress to support the Federal suffrage amendment to the United States.
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