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.
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 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 |