xt70rx937t9n_60 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4.dao.xml unknown 13.63 Cubic Feet 34 boxes, 2 folders, 3 items In safe - drawer 3 archival material 46m4 English University of Kentucky The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Laura Clay papers Temperance. Women -- Political activity -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- Kentucky. Women's rights -- United States -- History. Women -- Suffrage -- Kentucky. Women -- Suffrage -- United States. Laura Clay correspondence with Kate M. Gordon text Laura Clay correspondence with Kate M. Gordon 2020 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx937t9n/data/46m4/Box_3/Folder_17/Multipage2403.pdf 1919 February-May 1919 1919 February-May section false xt70rx937t9n_60 xt70rx937t9n nventioa
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do not believe vra“ists

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them of the abor of getting State suffrage

My mind is

21mg

Open to conviction about the rightfulne ess of recogn
14th Amendment by

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amending it, But I went

to say this by way of advo—

cating that policy. Ist. A reconstruction amendment was an imperative
Neither nor

necessity. Lhe constitution and the Qupreme Feirt had ever

what constitzted a citizen of the Tnited or his prii.

2.
celebrated :red Scott decision in 1857 declared that the negro could not
be a citizen of the U.S.,xahether born free or not. After the war, it
was impossible to let such a decision stand. other provisions, also,
were demanded by the exigencies of the situation, ahich was reconstruc—
tion after a revolution. Was it not the result of too obstinate a re—
sistance on the part of the reconstructed states which caused the overthre
throw of the resonstructed constitutions and the inauguration of the milita—
ry rule? and . An amendment , throwing out the most objectionable fea-
ture, would in effect make it a new amendment,~and one which the southern
states might with selfurespect accede to. Too large a portion of our nation-
al history has been made since that era to hope entirely to deny its legal~
ity. 3rd. It would leave the qualifications for suffrage entirely un-
touched, throwing upon the states themselves the responsibility of ac-
cepting a disability if they preferred not to have suffrage universal.
This amendnent might never be ratidied, but as I said in my previous letter,
ithe very fact that there was a possibility of its ratification would
make every state hasten to make state constitutional amendments;' The
politicians would do this; and the great aggument that arduous campaigns
were demanded of the t.men would be silenced.

In the meanwhile, keep up your courage. ﬂotaing is lost yet; much has
been gained by forcing something besides the Anthony Amendment upon the
attention of suffragists and politicians.

Trite to me again very soon, please. I have no one to discuss

these things with; and yet I feel that the Southern Conference now has“.

a possibility of turning public opinion in a very important way, if we i

are vigilant.
My regards to your sisters

Very cordially yours,

JEAN I“. GUI‘DON. President

DIRS. W. A. GORDON

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KATE 1H. GORDON

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THEO. N. VAIL, PRESIDENT
SEND the following Telegram, subject to th 1e terms % j ,
on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to ﬂ/i/t, 1, . - / V
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Phone Nlain 5001 FANNIE ll. GORDON

JEAN M. GORDON. Presulent KATE M. GunnuN

RIBS. W. A. GURDON
7, - / ' V .,\
SEA

EMANUFACTU

508 MAGAZINE STREET

NE“’ORLEANS,LA.
Eehnaayy 12, I9I9

My dear Miss clay;

Congratulations that for the present the menace of the Federal
Suffrage Amendmnet is postponed. How we ought to get busy

and see if before the next Congress convenes we could not get
some agitation that will be effective. Gamble c0mes out this
morning with the propOsition that the suffregists take out
the enforcement clause but which nnxdixa you disagreed with
me would be e aood move.

Now I see your view point but I realize tnet there has to be
semetning done to shake up the southern states to act and I
believe befOre the nepublicens ere in control is the time for
action. Now it occurs to me that we have e very good bludgeon

if all the suffrage associations, National, Homan's Aarty and
SOuthern Conference would unite on an amendment to make the

basis of representation mnianxmnkexxnnxxxxnnxhxxixxxdixsnxlifi-
caxinnx in any state which makes sex a disoualification , cor-
respond to the numerical strengt? of the male pepulation of

such state. It would take tne objectionable feature of the
14th amendment out of the discussion. which is designed to

protect s distinct class. Any state that objected to en~
franchise its women would pay a self imposed penalty for the
privilege and I believe as it is a Case of hurting practical
politicians while endangering any section that did not res-

pond we nvve the form of coercion needed without the dangers of

a federal 7m rment. If you think well of the suggestion let

me have abrerly, preferably by telegram and I Will submit to the
Officers of the SOuthern Cenference. I am inclosing Mrs. Harper's
last letter. Affectio

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Form 2

RECEIVERS NO. TIME FILED

SEND the following Telegram, subject to the terms
on back hereof, which are hereby agreed to

To.

189 E.Mill , Lexington, Ky.
March 17th, 1919.
My dear Miss Gordon,
I am writing to say that I could not get a room at
the Statler, anu have just received a telegram that they have secured me a
room at the Planters. I am so glad you are going to the convention. Our
State convention voted to wait till the National decided whether or not
they wished My. to have a state amendment submitted neXt legislature. The
Louisville a Asso. is completely under the influence of the National, and
had the majority of delegates in the convention. This vote was in oppo-
sition to the wishes of Mrs.Breckinridge, who use practically chosen pres—
ident unanimously. They are willing to have a state amendment submitted,
if the National does not object: 80 we shall not know for two weeks. And
now we have had a serious auto accident, in which Mrs.Bredkinridge was
badly bruised. I doubt whether she will be able to go to the convention;

and she is so frail it may interfere with her work as the president. I do

so much wish to have your counsel and support at this time. I Shall hope

to see a great del of you even if we are not at the same hotel,We had
three candidates for Governor address our convention; and all promise to
support suffrage, and I am afraid they mean the Anthony amendment. ‘Can-
trill also addressed the convention, and says the Federal amendment will go

through next Congress. However, the convention laid on the table hdsPrOpoi
osition about primary suffrage. They were not willing to line up the wo—
men on pa rty lines, and Ky.is nearly evenly divided, and we thought it
would give the politicians an.advantage over us. It is so dark I am not
sure of my Spelling; but I must get this off at once.

My regards to your sisters.

Very cordially yours,

gnuihvrn guides written Smiling» Glunfprpnw

, KATE M. GORDON, President, AUDITORS
MRS7-29‘g' EALIchhNGTSONLRelmgecky’A It 1800 Prytania Street, New Orleans, La. MRS. JAS. M. McCORMACK,
. or am t., 1tte oc, r. . ' .
LAURA CLAY, V1ce-Presxdent at Large, 107 Brown Arcade, Baltimore, Md-
MARIE LOUISE COLLENS, Co. Sec’y, Lexington, Ky. MRS. w. M. STONER, 2d Auditor,
1309 Berlin St, New Orleans, La. HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS 1538 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C.

MRS. H. B. BARTLETT, Treasurer, MRS. OLIVER H. p. BELMONT,
155 Audubon Boulevard, New Orleans, La. New York City

IDA PORTER-BOYER, Executive Sec’y, MRS. HELEN GARDINER, HEADQUARTERS:
419 Camp Street, New Orleans, La. Washington, D. C. NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Ma rch 3, I919

Mv dear Miss 813*

0.!

Well I breathe easy I see that miserable Gamble «Gay amendment
and JonesB equally useless one 'has gone to sleep. Now the
point I hope I may be able to accomplish is two~foldg let. to con—
vince the suffrsgists that since the democrats have been placed at
a political disc dvantuge by the suffras gists(who are to my mind rank
republicans) the my hzve nothing to lose and will in all probe bili~
ty defeat%&im the* waitification; 2nd. to make the republicans
as s oer repeating e error of the other amendment dealing
with national suifra ge. If I can make them see through some of
our leading republican men in the south(end I know some very in~
fluentiel ones) the wisdom of not opening the race issue in the 6
south , the ooportunity for a white republican party may be built
up. The Amendment dealing only with the represen Mt tion in Con~
gress will accomplish results without any of the bitterness and with-
out the sacrifice of the great state right nrinciple.

No, I do not think simoly striking out the word male from the 14th
Amendment would achieve as easily results,for it would die—
tate to the state who should vote for the legislature and judi-
cial officers. XXXinxbsse The cutting down of representation is in
the 14th based upon the vote. and that is the rub___ in my amend-
ment it is ased uoon the total population of whe female pepulatio
and applies only to United States elections. If submitted it

would achieve women suffrage and leave less acrimony and with 1366
no sacrifice of principle for the state is absolutely free to de»
fine under it any qualifications so long as they are applied to both
men and women. It does place the United states in a position
to maintain a standard by which ﬁts government/[ma y dsﬂsnd be
tried and not found wanting“ in the applicatio on of our basi
principles of Consent and Re_oresc ente tion and yet maintains 0the
other basic principle oi the sovereignty o: the state.

I feel that if we touch th- I4th Amendment we will inject the
race issue and the ps sychological e1 fect neuld be be . Negro

men would feel the they were to be robbed of something in the
way of protection which in reality the;z have never h; ad. I do not
know whether I sent you this editorial from the states . you see at
once they recognize that this would give woman suffrage and are
willing to take chances on the ratification of the Federal Amendment
if submitted. They are robbed of this Opportunity mishnntxnsying
of defeating woman suffrage with this ”Representation Amendment”
unless they pay for the piper and have their reoresentation cut down.

the National Conantion. I 3 i ".v Whether without
cation they have drOJoed the Louis ivanr. State Suffrage Ass'n
oir rolls. We h-ve had no communications of any kind for
last eight months W1 ho I know of Eh: o mmunioitions sent
FOmuh's “arty. of no1rs o v mold out me out of a vote
that is a small mat , if I can have the _orivilo ages o? the

floor which Life lomoership grants me. lgwnvor T

.4
:3” i?

of
(3 gr.

"15c.L

have soon ‘1' ~:“V" 1 'TS done i hate to subject myself to it.

However i Lave h i , the jtntlor Hotel to reserve me a room
near you or Ire I ‘ f you should be going to another hotel
let me know as w {e ' be ith you.

All the Southern '1”3 = ’7“; = are in favor of the amendment
except zraw Hcoormao: 9 1-“;"s f - Hrs Ellington of Arkansas

now living in Dull3s ,ia,3 neither rf whom have reoliod to my lot—
ter. Did i write . that both or. Bruns and jon Caffery
indorso the umondmen

Relative to ‘2; , ' Hr. Caffory found 3 technicalitv

that would regui - 3rnor to order tne Attorney General to
proceed to open ‘ _ ‘ Jeo on sav the Governor and he is
afraid of disturbing 1 ~ oienumants. It is waiting now on the
Governor. Te 3. " ' , t- the failure of tho Gamble ;mendment
and too surety that VOmnn suffrage will be submitted by the republi»
cans will influence the situation.

3 «1.» , — . 3 -. .1 ...1
I no iOt see VGJ \u“ L w- ' - v ‘ ~ 9.5aﬂiﬁﬁtlvfi i1. ”he

Southern Conz‘erence w v". ' - 1: »‘ I believe W .liould gm
xkxaxnry ohnrge on r . 7 ~ 7 - om3.)ntio rle mitt ‘orinoiplo,
Did you note in Hrs. a p , i g ,- sh- byte 3 why the
E3tional rejects~ ‘_ . ‘ - ‘ 7* there over our amendment
to the constitution

Smuthrrn gnaw Mamet} ﬁyﬁ‘ragv (ﬁnnfrrmw

MRS. O. F. ELLINGTON, Rec. Sec’y, KATE M. GORDON, President, AUDITORS

721 w. Morkham St., Little Rock, Ark. LAJET :iizmzsueet’ New Oﬂeans’ La' MRSI-OgABS- M- IXCCCQRMACK,
, ice-President at Large, rown rca e, Baltimore, Md.
MAIgIgg 330111.181; CELLIEEES, Co. Sec’y. Lexington, Ky- MRS w M STONER 2d Auditor
er in t. ew r eans La. . . . , ,
, ’ HONORARY VICE-FRESIDENTS 1538 Rhode Island Ave., Washington, D. C.

MRS. H. B. BARTLETT, Treasurer, MRS. OLIVER H. P BELMONT

155 Audubon Boulevard, New Orleans, La. New York City

IDA PORTER-BOYER, Executive Sec’y, MRS. HELEN GARDINER, HEADQUARTERS:
419 Camp Street, New Orleans, La. Washington, D. C. NEW ORLEANS, LA.

March 14,

hy dear miss Clay

1 have just t off the inclosed request for a short confer—
ence with ‘ tetionel 30erd for you and me. I do not see

how they can M811 refuse it but Hrs. Catt is so intolerant it
may be she will not consent , Anyhow i think11t is a good
policy to out her on record.

Of course you have seen the ‘ the Liquor people on the
part of Rhode island in what ‘ Led the Eaton Resolution.

If the point of attack has not prohibition, I would
rejoice as 1 do think the tendency to achieve reform of every
kind thro rational Amendments does strike at the safety of the
state Right Brinciole , and which seems to me to be the

the sole safeguard against the fate of Germany.

1 hope you will not thine it gresumptious to have made this ap
pointment without asking for your consent . I simply hope

to get them not to attack the representation amendment . It
is almost beyond hoge to have them indorse it.

I will leave here for 3t. Louis next Saturday the 22, and wil-
be in St. Louis about noon 3undey. Mrs. soyer also arrives
Sunday and we can all have s nice little conference before we
see the other delegates. Of course if the Rational accords
the conference and eipoints an earlier time i will wire you
and ask you to meet me earlier. Are you goingﬁto the Statler?
I have reserved a room there but if you er§“to eny other hotel
1 would rather be there we could be together. ‘

Cordiully
lute M. cordon.

”t,, lexington. Fy.
xyl‘il 26th, 191.9.
si “e”? “188 Gordon. 1 nave been delayed in receiving 30“? letter 0f Apr.
I9th because I have been a few days in ﬁichmond, *y. How I Wlll answer it
4 W10“ 1" . "
Ln ﬂyglifréipgcs‘i smm'mtn. I out this first. because: ‘fmnﬁ 3’01?!“ i??3?e°}ate
advice and assistance. On “unusy before we left tt.Louistors.Brccninr1§ge ,
and other Yy.delegetes, including myself, saw the national gourd. and Laid
the ﬁy.situstion before them. ﬁrs.B.nskeﬂ their morsl und financial sup-
port fer a stoic roferendum. lrs.Cstt enuressec reluctsnce to a sun”
referendum, but after discussion, Kiss lay moved toot tne_ﬂstxonsl or
isod sunrort to any measure the Txccutive board of Ky. undctook: nit
this promise, we held e Board meeting in touisville ﬁendsy morning: enough
I on no longer on the Baord, as you will see exploinéed in s clipping i on-
close, I have a right as exfgges. to sit at toe neetingc one have n voice,
but no vote. We hoped the To isville members, wno are in a majority, would
now consent to a stste referendum. loo will see by the clipping tbst the
state convention expected the final conclusion to be submitteo to tne local
branches, though the resolution nooyteﬁ ooes not embody that expectation.
But the appearances are that the oooosiiion will simply refuse to sorry
the matter before the local branches, and hold all work for a referendum
back until the calico session of the Congress passes an amendment or ad—
journs. This delay would be fatal to my nlan of haVing bath parties endorse:
a state referendum, uni thereby curry the burden of the cumguign teem—
selves. Therefore, as you will see by the cligping, I an thrown back to
work H. best way I can to go before ticse party conventions and claim
the i rillment of their National platform oromises. I have said dis-
tinctly to my friends that I intendeﬁ to join any effort oossible to is
this, if the Ky.E.§.A. did not do so. is for as I understood, it is the
purpose of the aosrd to ask for support of “residential suffrage and a
Feoersl Bucndment, but to hold the 3'stc amendment in abeyancc. New I have
been reflecting how I could go about acting independently of that Board.
For me and my frienés to sypesr simnly as a committee, without any organ—
ized body back of us might prove a position too weak to do any good. But
while talking it over with Hts/ Bennett, it occurred to me that I mnght
act as vicempresidcnt of the Southern states ”oamn Suffrage Conference; this
would give the backgrounﬁ needed. ilso, I think it would have a healthy
effect as showing that there is an organizes bcﬂ union stands for the state
route. want do you think of our conference taking as its ffficial grouns
tﬁn it will c'ﬁﬁm1the promises of the two great parties ? Ana that in the
course of official procedure, you will write to members in the several
states there the situation justifies it, asking them to bring this matter
before the party c nventions ? If this appeals to you, Imoon you could
write me a letter officially to that effect. However, if you &0 not think
it best to speak officially in ﬁy.or the other “totes, I see no reason why
I should not act as vice—presiﬂent, with the aid of a committee who oesire
the fulfillment of the ‘lstfo m olédgcs. My idea is by no means to with—
draw either from the “tote "in. . or the E.A.".“.ﬁ.; but to asse t my lib-
erty as a citizen to clein those pledges. My idea is, to collect in the
short time I have to act, a number of friends who will sign cards as members
of the fonferoncc as a local branch. I am so desirous to get this letter
off that I cannot spare the time to look up the Conference constitution.
Can we form a local, wnich will pa* dues, say of five dollars or so, as a
branch, without the individuals pa ing dues separately? That is a metﬁod
which is customary in our #.?.A/ and mould be far lessr ifficu Erin the
stations ”i seen 1;, into so seedy-is mists; trim
is short. Will you please give this matter your immediate uni careful

A
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2. .
consideration, and write to me promptly. any suggestions would be grate-
fully received, I have an abundance of membership cards; but if you
have our constitution, especially a lovul constitution, I shall be glad
to have it.KrS.Bennett says she is going to write to you herself; and
also that she will come as a dolegote from Richmond, so we can have at
least two counties reprerented.

Congres1ional W0 K.

I am going to follow your lead in the Federal “mend-
ment work, as I am sure you will regard the vtutes Fights doctrine; and
you are well fitted in every'respeot to curry it on. I am only going to
try to help you in every way I can. I can transfer the promise of five
hundred dollars I made to the Louisiana work and place it for this work
instead. So I am enolosing an installment of one hundred dollars, to be
used at your discretion; and as soon as you formulate your plans, you can
sell neon me for any portion of the pledge you desire.

is suggestions only, I say again i hink your Federal fmendment would
be more popular if it made Presidential, Congressional and senatorial
suffrage obligatory, and did not merely put pressure upon tne states to
grant it.

For your information, I think from several things I have heard, that
the Hi.t.s.i. intends to bring in the $.36Anthony amendment snorn of its
enforcing clause; which ones you suggested yourself. I find that leaving
it off toil prevent Congress passing legislation interfering with state
elections; and therefore will be much less offensioe than the present for .
The courts, however, can foroe states in state elections when oases come
before itksm them . Therefore, it will be a serious invasion of state
rights.

égain, I have thought if your amendment does indeed, as Hrs.0stt feared,

draw enough votes away to make its passage impossible, then rerhaps the
national will itself introduce a more moderate amendment. It seems to me
that the ”nites ﬁtates “leotions bill would be the best solution of the
problem, and I believe it could be carried if the Rational supgorted it. I
wish you would read the article in the roman Citizen of April I2, celled
Are "omen “eople? It seems to me that in it the national seems to be look-
ing around for some other measure; and if the suggestion comes from some
of their Ker York women, they may yet study the merits of the “.G.Elee-
tions bill. Therefore, I eduise you also not to forget it. Ihen you call
the attention of your 5 iends to it be sure to make them read nr.miner's
article in the drone. To many it will seem stronger than mine, if for no
other reason than that he was a pracrioing lawyer. If you study it, be
very careful not to be led off into Mrs.Colby's error of providing quslw
ifioetigns; but stiek firmly to toe position of nr-ninor that states are
to iurnish qualifications, but that sex sonnet be made one, as peoyle
are unelterebly composed of men and women. """"‘*‘_‘

Your Louisiana ylEGISLATUEE. If you do have a called session I would by all
means ask for yresidentiol suffrage. The fast that it is derived from the
U.S.Constitution, and that State constitutions can-0t deprive legislatures

f the ri nt of granting it has now been established by so many states that
even Louisianen lawyers must coneede it.

THE RACIAL vROU“IHG. In order to make my point quite clear there, I will
say that I would dwell on the fact that the ﬁuroyeun nations are making ran
oiol groupings a fundamental nrinoinle. When the men have the right conu
ferred upon them by the 15th Amendment of ”exemption from discrimination "
on account of race

r'v

0.
on account of *racs, color or previous condition of servitude", thoy
grscticslly have the vote conferred upon them by Federal enactment, and not
like white men, by stats gift. Thersfore, when they have a cause of coma
plaint about any election they have immediate recourse to United States nan:
courts and laws instead of to state courts and laws, to shioh white men
must go unless the election is of Federal officers. This draws a polit~
isal line between whits men and colored peoples, Whether negross, Japs,
Chinese or what not. Now if woman are enfranchised by that same method, thy
they are by the same means groupsﬁ politically with colorsﬂ peoples instead
of vith white men. Ehis may be all suitable for colored women; but it is
antagonistic to the prineiyle of rose octerminntion in the ease of units
women; and while any consequengégﬁ at all may seem farmfetchsd to persons
unaoqusintsd with the workings of a law, there one very real consoquencégg
union may follow suoh a grouping. For evsry one at all oxneriwnosé in law,
knows that sometimes the most unexvostsa offeot is , wonssquenos of a law.
This argument ﬂoss not apply to Fsdsrsl ﬁnsnomsnt for Federal'ﬁlestions; for
all persons have slrssﬁy recourse to Tedsral Courts and Felons] laws for
protection in all cases of Federal slootions.

, e give my rsgsrﬁs to your sistorsn ; “n s. L, 3: hear of Kiss
J sn's .‘ s scs

z LIT-

388 3 3111 .t., ﬁexingtcn, :3.
april 25th, 2919.
3138 Gordon. 5
I have been delayed in receiving your letter of :pr.
19th because E have beaa a few Jav3 in VichmonJ, Ly. Row 1 will answar it
in paragraphs. ,.
ﬂiﬁ Yﬂﬁ"Wva SITUTTTSK. I put this first, because I want your immeélgte
advice and asaistanae. en *unday before we left “t.30ui3 Tgrs. 3602’1nrid€§ .
and other Ny.Jeleg3tes, inciuéimg myself, saw the Jutianal 5031;, 333 131d
the Ty .situaticn before them. $38.3.J3keﬂ their moral :nd financia; sup-
2ort for a stata rufewwnnam. “33.5315 “yarnJaaﬁ 2312 zetw ance to a 3L3tc
3351333833, but J tar minvumsL n, 2133 .33 moved t—at L33 Rational
133$ sunrert to any mwasure the ﬁxecutive hourﬁ cf 33. undetook.
this wréﬁiae, we held a 5oarJ meeting in Touisville fonaay 30r1;ug,
um 33 longer 03 bha ﬁaorﬂ, 33 you will 333 exilainﬁeﬁ i; a 311;:t2ging
31333, I have a right as 3333‘33. ta sit 33 the m335ing3 and J.v 3 vaice,
but no vote. ”6 heped the #0'1321113 2333313, 333 are in a majerity, would
now cmnsani t0 3 state 331313 nduﬁ Yen 32111 1 by tha cliyying that the
State canvantﬁ on exwecteﬁ the fanaE conelusien to be submitteﬁ to 133 local
br2nches, 0.0upn £13 "~3clut.Jn gﬁeytaﬂ 3033 not emboﬁy the“ rxyecth'Trr
;3Ut 13a aznsa-Jncgs are that L33 3520311133 3111 simply refuse t3 6 33y
Lna JIJJJJ 335033 the Loesl 31Jnah389 unJ hold 311 30th fer 3133:3133Juw
back until the 03113 J 3“”3JQE of 1h3 nﬁ~gp2~ 333333 an 333h4u33 or aJ
303333. This Jelay moL11d be £3331 to my ,lan 0f having both waiins 335033 e
a state .1 3fezendum, anJ therah; curvy ihe burﬁer of the enmyaign Leemu
selvm s. iherefore, 33 3'03 31111233 by the GJ'vh‘nq, I am thrown back to
£333 33 333$ 33;; f can to go 36203 23333 ert; conventisns amJ alaim
the J fillment of tneir JLJJJJI platform wramises, J hnva 33.1J J‘s-
tiactly to m; i1.iends that I intandeﬁ to 1'2“ any 35¥Qrt OJHJbla t0 J0
this, if .he Ty.ﬁ.§.3. diﬁ noﬁ JO 30. is ::r as I understrna, it 13 1h
9335033 of the «“119 to ask fer saggort of TrJSidential suffrage anJ a
Federal unshament, but to halﬁ the *uate wwwndinrt 1T ah3311n93. ”ow T have
been reflect'.g how I could go 35233.t 333212 1g inde per Jen+1y 3f that 53333.
For .‘33 and my frianﬁs 30 agpeur UlT‘ly 23 3 committee, witheut any crgan-
ized body back of us migﬂt zrove 3 903131 on too 3333 to do any @633. Jut
while talking it over with Wt 5ennett. it occurred 10 me that T mighﬁ
33% a3 vice~prngiuent of tha *311‘nvr :catag “03mm Tuffrage Conferenaa; this
aculd give tha b220kground naeJed. flee, I think it would have 3 h3elihy
effect 33 xhowing that there is an oraniaed boﬂy unich 3t3ntg fer 11.3 atate
3&%13. '233 do you think of cur 3033333333 taking as its ﬁffieial grouma
thu it will a the :2romis 38 3f 2.33 twa great 3231133 ? 233 333% in the
3011333 of officiau proced.ure, "02 3111 33113 to memberg 13133 8&V6?El
st:tes nuere 133 sitxati.n Ju,m ifias it, 33 aing; imam 13 bring t.h13 mattar
9&102T one PBTtB G ﬂvnniicna ? If «His arﬁnala tn You.t”hen yru vaulé
33133 33 & lettwr offieiallv to tiat hut Hewevar, if you J3 net tnink
it begt to Speak officiallv in 13.3r Zhe other ”antes, I 333 no raason Jhy
11::culd no? act as vi ee—prasiéent, with 233 aid of J cointfmn Jho Jasire
ﬁne ialfillmant of the “latform wléﬁges. Ky 1133 13 b3 n0 means t6 with—
(12'3“ 691133.82" 31°25"? 2113 f: w i -.. ‘. or 3 3-52; 3;; . 1:12.; but; to {$8332.25 my lib-
er L; 33 3 aitisan to 33313 thoaa “leﬁg as My £633.13, to colle<2t in the
shart't2me E hive to act, 3 number of iriends .vho will SiPH 33353 as members
05 233 gzzfarcnce as a local er.nah. T am so de3 irons to get this letter
93f fa”? 5 G“n“0t S:&”e LUG lee t0 100k an the FonLNMPPcw CnrqtitﬂfJ
bin we iorm a 10331.nich will pa dues, 33.3 of five ﬁlJJ s or so, as. 3
aneh, ﬁit out the inﬁividuals raglrv duagz 903313107v Tnat is 3 331106

Juich is customar;r in our ‘.T A/ and 4Juld be far 1332 1 Wka M113
1312112125323353133 22532 “33-3123? 535.2; 22531253435211le m . “o 232;: time

13 short. 3111 gch please give this matter your immaﬁiate and cara ful

oonaideration, and write to me promptly. my suggestions would be grate-
fully receivad, : have an aoundnnce of membership cards; but if you

have our constitufi n, esyaciLlIy u l 0&1 congtﬁtutiun, T shall be glad
to have it.jr:. Baunatt Says she 16 going to wriLL to you Hers elf; and
also 1HLL she will comm Lu 2 4al21 to ﬁv'm Hiohmond, so we wan have at
lﬁkﬁt two cc;u1nties Taprugwu02d.

Congret

I am going Ln follow ycur leaa in the Veneral “mena—
ment work, an I am aura you mil ‘ regard the ’LnLeE Eights dcctrine; and
you Lre well fitteﬁ in evnry 122122t to Ger; 1L er. I am only guing to
try to help you in every way I CLn. X can LIuLufer the gr01nise of five
hundreé ﬁellarﬁ I made t0 the Louisiana work Lnﬁ place it far thiﬁ work
instead. 90 I am enclcsing an instﬁllment of one hundreé ﬁollLrs, to be
used at your ﬁiscretjon; ﬁnd as sacn. as you fermulate your plans, you can
call upon me far any portion of tag pledge you 5 "ira.

is suggesticns only, I say again I think your yaJnval 1e12rcnt would
be more popular if it made irasiéential, LLLErLLLLLnal and anaterial
suxi rage o Eligatcry, anﬂ 612 net mar 13 gut preasara agca 111:1 aha 23 to
grant it.

Eor your inf or antics, I think from ' thinga l have nenrﬁ, c.tiat
the 52.”.3.2. inLrn 3 L0 bring in the i 1 aeny amen L ant sacrn 91 its
enf: rcing c111 ; mnioh o as you L225 L . I find thaL leaving
it csz @531 preve nt JOLgress pa arirg is n interfering witg state
eleLLLLrs 255 Lnere?0re will he much 135 'Lim1n 119 prarwnt farm.
The coqrtL, hawever, can force atutea in ‘ L~:;Lns Lhen cases come
before iXRgm them . Therafere, it will b eric7s invasion of state
r122...

:gain, I nava 11L vvkt if your am221221t dM indaeﬂ, as frs.JatL faarad,

draw enough votes azuy to make its passage imposs ible, than perhaps the
ﬂatienal will its elf introduce a more modLLHte amendment. It seems to
that the “mitas fiates ”lecLLone bill wculd be the best soluti2n of the
problem, arﬂ T balieve it could b2 carried if the :aticnal supyorted it. I
wish you would Lead Lha article in the Toman Citizen of ﬁpril :2, 231196
Are 22man ‘noyle? It seemL to me tha» in it t? e MaLiwnal seams to be 120k-
ing araana for scma ather 1522119; and if Lhe Luggestion games from game
of h1':ir New York women, they may yet stuﬁy Lhe m5rit3 of the *.“.Elee-
tj2na bill. T1 refore, T aduise ybm alse not tc forget it. Then yen call
the u‘tantion of 1r : Lands to it be sure to make them read ﬁr.£inar'$
article in tha ﬁr;ne. To many it will seem stronger than mine, if for ma
athe. rnasan than Luau he was a pracricing lawyer. If you study it, b9
very careful not to he led off into 4r5.Colby's arror of providing qual-
ificacions; but stick firmly to 126 posigion of ﬁr.£inar that states are

sh qualifications, but that sex éannot be made one, as people

are unulteraolv 01mL0wed of men 1nd women. mmnm"

Your Louisiana glﬁGiuT“iG”“. If you do have a called ses