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The Wheeling Intelligencer, September 4, 1920


MRS. YOST SAYS WEST VIRGINIA WOMEN WILL BE REGISTERED.

Special Dispatch to The Intelligencer.

Charleston, W. Va., Sept. 3.—In an address to the women of West Virginia, Mrs. Ellis A. Yost, associate chairman of the Republican state committee, today declared that with their co-operation assurance would be given of their complete registration, which would entitle them to full participation in the coming general election.

In her statement Mrs. Yost points out that the difficulties that appeared after Governor Cornwell announced that he did not contemplate calling the legislature in special session could be overcome by the co-operation of the women throughout the state, and recites that the Republican organization in the state has already started the work that will result in securing to the women their full rights.

Her statement follows: “It is of the highest importance that the women of West Virginia exercise the right of voting, and in order to accomplish this it will be necessary to be prompt and diligent in performing the preliminary steps, especially in view of the fact that the regular registration of voters was systematical[l]y completed under the existing laws prior to the ratification of the suffrage amendment by the thirty-six states.

No Special Session.

“Governor Cornwell has announced in a published statement, with his reasons therein given, that a special session is not contemplated.

“At first it seemed that the difficulty of securing a complete registration of the women and their full participation in the election would be almost impossible of solution, but a careful study and analysis of the present laws, under highest legal advice, has shown that with the earnest efforts of the women themselves the problem can be solved.

“It is conceded that the registrars may at once in their respective precincts enroll the women voters; that they can in two days provided—October 18 and 19—for their sitting and completion of the registration, add the list of the women voters to their present registration lists, and in this way every woman in West Virginia would be duly registered and entitled to vote.

Can Divide Precincts.

“Likewise in those cases where the additional woman vote makes the precinct so large that the entire vote cannot be easily cast on election day, the county courts may in their discretion, and for the purpose of making it pos[s]ible for the vote to be case, divide such precincts and provide the proper registration in the new precincts. Notwithstanding the fact that the present statute provides for ninety days notice of any precinct change, in view of the present emergency the ninety day clause would undoubtedly be held to be directory and not mandatory.

“With the proper co-operation between the organizations of the political parties this procedure would be made easier, and such co-operation has been suggested and is still hoped for. The Republican party organization has already started the work that will result in securing the women of the state their equal rights.

“I earnestly repeat to the women of the state, regardless of their political af[f]iliation, to aid in this work of enrolling for registration, and thus help to show our appreciation of the franchise by getting a large woman vote in this election.


"Fighting the Long Fight" Chapter 7