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Moundsville Daily Echo, August 27, 1920


LOCAL WOMEN ORGANIZE FOR VOTING; BELLS RING SATURDAY

Newly Enfranchised Voters Met at Court House Thursday Evening—The Whole County to be Organized—Celebration at Noon Tomorrow.

The first League of Women Voters in West Virginia was organized at the court house Thursday evening.

Scarcely had the ink dried on the newspapers proclaiming that the Nineteenth amendment to the constitution was an actual fact than the progressive women of Moundsville met in the court house and organized a league for the purpose of developing intelligent citizenship.

The court room was well filled, the crowd including several gentlemen.

The meeting was called to order by Mrs. C. E. Lancaster who introduced Dr. Harriett B. Jones. Dr. Jones’ address was an explanation of the work to be undertaken by the League and of the many laws in this and other states that are unjust to women, depriving them of rights and privileges with their children and their property.

The League is a national organization, the United States being divided in seven regions. West Virginia is in the fourth region which also included Ohio, Ke[n]tucky, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indianna [sic] and Il[l]inois.

What the League Is

The League of Women Voters is the organized womanhood of America held together by the determination to develop a citizenship worthy of the long years of struggle for the ballot. It is an organization to unite all women of whatever political faith and its first duty is the political education of the women voters. It will be made up of women voters of all political parties but each member is perfectly independent and can belong to any party she prefers.

All wome[n] over 21 years of age are eligible to membership. Young women under 21 years of age may become associate members.

After Dr. Jones’ address she was made chairman of the meeting and Mrs. Pearl Stultz was made Secretary. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following board of directors was chosen:

First ward—Mrs. Mary Lutes
Second Ward—Miss Sarah Porter
Third Ward—Mrs. Henry T. Compton
Fourth Ward—Mrs. E. M. Lewis
Directors at Large—Miss Belle Martin, Mrs. Frank T. Fulton and Mrs. Vera Newman.

These directors will meet at the home of Mrs. E. M. Lewis on Tenth street this evening at 7 o’clock to organize by electing a chairman and secretary.

A meeting of the League and all women of the city will be held at the court house next Thursday evening when a man will be present to give instruction in registering. At another meeting a man will tell the ladies how to mark their ballots, and a booth will be erected soon to show the women how to cast their ballots.

A league of the women of Benwood will be formed Tuesday night of next week, and the Glendale women will organize Thursday evening. Leagues will be formed all over the county and these leagues will be united in a county league, which will appoint delegates to the meeting of the state league which will be held in Huntington next month. These delegates will be instructed in many matters pertaining to citizenship and they will bring the instructions back to their county and local leagues.

The league starts off with a membership of 54 women. They are:

Mrs. M. L. Compton
Mrs. J. E. Sivert
Mrs. W. K. Mason
Mrs. S. A. Thatcher
Mrs. J. L. Terrell
Mrs. E. F. Rogers
Mrs. W. W. Stidger
India V. Evans
Claire Robinson
MRs Annie Robinson
Nanon L. Hendershott
Mrs. Henry T. Compton
Clare Schroder
Belle Martin
Ethel Fisher
Mrs. Ed. Lohr
Mrs. Mary Lutes
Mrs. D. F. Ruckman
Mrs. Wm. Martin Riggs
Mrs. A. J. McDaniel
Mrs. A. L. Frankllin
Mrs. Bess Hicks Cottrell
Sophia V. Hubbs
Augsta Behrens Sherrard
Sarah Porter
Mrs. Laura St. Clair
Mrs. Frank McDaniel
Lena L. McDaniel
Mrs. D. T. Burton
Mrs. Forest Holt Brennan
Mrs. John Schaub
Mrs. Marie Lewis
Catherine Smith
Iona Hubbs
Mrs. C. E. Woodburn
Mrs. S. W. Booher
Mrs. Frank Kunert
Mrs. Seth Stephens
Mrs. Louise Chambers
Mrs. Emory Chamberlain
Mrs. Dorothy Allum
Mrs. Elizabeth O. Finch
Mrs. Frank Fulton
Mrs. A. D. Ayers
Mrs. J. Howard Holt
Mrs. A. Karcher
Mrs. M. B. Kimple
Edith Criswell
Della Criswell
Mary McCombs
Mrs. C. E. Lancaster
Helen Baker, Associate, Glendale
Irene A. Burton
Gertrude Shaw


"Fighting the Long Fight" Chapter 7