xt7w3r0pvw3d https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7w3r0pvw3d/data/mets.xml  Kentucky Equal Rights Association 1917 1919 Minutes and reports from the annual conventions and other meetings of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association. Includes the following titles: Minutes of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association; Minutes of the Annual Convention of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association; and Report of the Annual Convention of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association. JK1883 .K4, 24 volumes. annual reports  English  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Equal Rights Association minutes and reports Women -- Suffrage -- Kentucky -- Periodicals Women -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Kentucky -- Periodicals Reports of the Twenty-Eight and Twenty-Nine Annual Conventions of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association Held at Lexington, Kentucky, November 30th and December 1st, 1917 and at Louisville, Kentucky, March 11th and 12th, 1919. text Reports of the Twenty-Eight and Twenty-Nine Annual Conventions of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association Held at Lexington, Kentucky, November 30th and December 1st, 1917 and at Louisville, Kentucky, March 11th and 12th, 1919. 1917 2019 true xt7w3r0pvw3d section xt7w3r0pvw3d ”’ ‘ gaaaaeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag .
_ p ,8, _ g, _
_ E REPORTS OF THE g:
‘38:? TWENTY-EIGE'ET AND TWENTY-Nlm'fil Qt
_ . g ANNUAL CONVENTHONS g:
f . 7f 4%; OF THE ' at i
' g Kentucky Equal Rights if:
a g E ' Association ‘ _ g -.
i ‘ ”5% . gs .
I E HELD AT g
- sg; , ' J ' LEXINGTON,‘KENTUCKY i=3?» _ . '
.1 3% NOVEMBER 30th and DECEMBER lst, 1912,22,, g:
-» . g _ . AND AT 5:1; I i.
-’ _ , g , LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY ‘ g
. , MARCH 11th, and 12th 1919
: $f§§j ' WW?! :3: _
3%‘539 bh Mirrwwim.,/ ii: J .
5 ' »1.3§fl§ll.@.ii°§.§i’§, frigate.bards? .zrsrrezzitr; tr ..
_ era 1. . . ,1. Wm Er
. _g to ave a vorce 1n err own g0 - - -‘ - ' - - - - ' - gg, .
. W , . . ”if
g 5 .fi¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥‘$¥¥%%¥3§%%¥WE ,~ '

 .

l

i

. a

. 1 .

l

i

4

l

‘ i
g‘

,

4
‘

.

l

i

ll

_ l

i

. i
x I‘

‘ i
3 l
l

1‘

l;-

l

t

l

1 l
' l

l

I
‘ l
:l
. . 3‘
. "l
V t
H

i

\. l
. i

 l ”We shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our
1 hearts—for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority
1 to have a voice in their own government.” 2—: 2-: :-: :-: :-: I
l REPORT OF THE .
" TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING
.3 OF THE
l KENTUCKY EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION
HELD AT
PHOENIX HOTEL—LEXINGTON, KY.
1 NOVEMBER 30th and DECEMBER lst, 1917
' I ~ M»
l OFFICERS
5 President
MRS. JOHN CLOVER SOUTH............................................Frankfort, Ky.
l First Vice-President
MRS. E. L. HUTCHINSON..................................................Lexington, Ky.
, Second Vice-President
' MISS LAURA CLAY............................................................Lexington, Ky.
Third Vice-President
MRS. JAS. A. LEECH..........................................................Louisville, Ky.
' 2 Corresponding Secretary V
, MRS. THOS. JEFFERSON SMITH.....................................Louisville, Ky.
Recording Secretary
‘ MRS. ROBINSON A. MCDOWELL........................................Louisville, Ky.
Treasurer '
3 MRS. J. B. JUDAH................................................................Louisville, Ky.
l‘ - Auditor
5’ MRS. JOSEPH ALDERSON............................................Middlesboro, Ky.
! State Member Executive Council ' '.
l ‘ MRS. EDWIN POSTPaducah, Ky.
l Chairman of Congressional Work .
l MRS. JULIA D. HENNINCLou‘sv‘lle,KY .3. . .
s 1.: 5:} 3'5
3 191864 3.,,.,._ .

 .MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION
November 30th, 1917

The Annual Convention of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association 1
was called to order at the Phoenix Hotel, Lexington, Nov. 30th, at 2:30 ' 1
o'clock by the President.

Miss Clay opened the Convention with prayer. The President an-
nounced that in the absence of the Recording Secretary she appointed the
lst Vice-President to act as Secretary pro tern. The President asked Mrs.
Leech to take the chair while she gave her annual address which will be
printed in the records of this convention.

Mrs. McDowell moved that the President's report be accepted.

. Carried. 1
Miss Clay moved that the President’s address be given to the press. 1
Carried. 1
Mrs. Hutchinson announced the arrangements of the Fayette Equal 1

Rights for the entertainment of the delegates. 1
A tea Friday by the Fayette Equal Rights Ass’n at the Y: M. C. A. 1
Joint meeting Friday night with the Eastern Kentucky Educational 1

Association with Mrs. Nellie McClung of Canada as the suffrage speaker

introduced by Mrs. Breckinridge.

Saturday 12:30 luncheon with Mrs. McClung. Hon. Jeanette Rankin
and Mrs. Breckinridge as speakers.
On Saturday at 4 o'clock the Woman's Club who had invited the

Kentucky Equal Rights Ass'n to bring their speaker to them for their pro— 1

gram and a social hour, which on account of pressing business had to be

declined and they were invited to join with the Kentucky Equal Rights

Ass’n Saturday afternoon.

Report of Mrs. Hutchinson accepted.
The President announced the appointment of the following com- 1
mittees: '
n . .. a .o- ." z z 2

 Platform—Mrs. Leech, Miss Clay, Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Whitesides and
Mrs. Breckinridge.

Credentials—Mrs. Judah and Mrs. Laferty.

Elections—Mrs. Oldham, Miss Simpson and Mrs. Drake.

Courtesies—Mrs. Willis, Miss Lloyd and Mrs. Alderson.

Mrs. Thos. J. Smith presented greetings from the National.

Mrs. Judah made a prelimary report of the Credentials Committee.
Present members of the Board 8—Fayette 20, Franklin IO, Shelby 1, ,

. Kenton 2, Madison 2, Carlisle 1, Louisville 4, Mason 2, McCracken 1,
Anderson 2—53 delegates and members of the Board present.

Mrs. Judah, Treasurer reported:

Expenditures $378863
Balance on hand 1344.63
Paid $1000.00 to the National,.......................

Total Receipts............$5|33.26 '

The Auditor being absent, Mrs. Leech, Acting Auditor made the fol-

} lowing report:

l ’ Auditor’s Report.

1 Kentucky Equal Rights Association.

l‘ I have carefully examined checks, vouchers, and bank books of Mrs.

J J. B. Judah, Treasurer and report their perfect accuracy.

Caroline A. Leech.

Auditor’s Report accepted.

Mrs. Hutchinson, Corresponding Secretary reported she had addressed
all the members of Congress about Mrs. Bennett’s bill, wrote all the letters
of condolence for the Board, wrote all Kentucky members of the House of
Representatives in Washington, also to vote for the creation of a suffrage
committee.

Report accepted.

l Mrs. Henning, Congressional Chairman reported her first duty was an
assignment in Washington on the Lobby Committee. 'She reported she ’
considered the Southern Congressmen very open minded. She also report-
ed the work of organization done in Kentucky for Congressional work and

. petitions signed and an organizer from the National working in Kentucky
at the present time.

Report accepted.

3 , : j

 r
l
' l
Mrs. Post, State Member of the National Executive Committee report- l
ed as part of her work, greetings to the W. C. T. U. Served at the Polls for l
the Draft as patriotic work.
As President,- McCracken League, was one of the organizers of the Red
Cross work. Also on the Executive Committee of the Red Cross. The
McCracken League bought Liberty Bonds. She was Chairman of a
Moonlight School. Chairman also of the Woman’s Committee for the
3 Y. M. C. A. Campaign and they raised $3044.00 of the $7000.00 raised.
Report accepted. I
1 Mrs. Leech moved that the following telegram be sent to President .
A Wilson: ' l
To The President, 1
The White House, _ l
Washington, D. C. 1
l
. . . l
. In the eflicrency of our soldiers, the safe guardlng of women and i .
L children who are left unprotected and for the earning of food materials
‘ now used for the manufacture of alcoholic liquors, we urge you to prohibit ;
~ the making of such liqour during the period of the war. 1 1
Unanimously adopted.
The President announced that the nominations must be made the first l
} afternoon of the Convention. Election Chairman to take charge. i
i Mrs. Firth reported on the work she had done as Chairman of the 1 1
1 uWoman Citizen" and urged all delegates to take the paper and urge all
sufiragists to do so. 1 l
‘ Mrs. Whitesides, Congressional Chairman of the 5th District reported: 1
Mrs. Firth of the 6th reported.
Mrs. Arville for the 7th. '
1 Mrs. Alderson for the ch. \
These reports were accepted.
Mrs. Leech reported as Press Chairman. l
1 Mrs. Smith moved that the recommendations in the Press Chairman's 1
report be referred to the Executive Committee. l
- Carried. 9
Mrs. McDowell reported as publicity Chairman. 1
1 1
‘ .. $1.: ... 136:2; E 4 i
2' 1 l

 l .
l
l
5‘ Mrs. Cromwell reported how Franklin County was organized in the
I ideal way—by precincts and recommended the patriotic units for suffrage
organizations.
Miss Clay reported the meeting of the National where she served as
Mrs. Post’s proxy. She said the National had called a meeting before war
was declared to plan what to do if war was declared. Their program as
then outlined was Food Conservation with Red Cross protection of women
in industry, Americanization of foreigners.
‘ Miss Clay urged that all leagues work as patriotic units.
Mrs. Williamson spoke on Americanization work as New York had
‘ done it.
i Mrs. McDowell reported that as Chairman of Science of the Kentucky
l Federation of Woman’s Club she had offered as plan of work the Ameri—
l canization Schools for foreigners, also for illiterates.
l
l _ Mrs. Whitesides reported the raising of corps for Italy in the New
York Campaign. Mrs. Whitesides reported that the State Ass’n make as its
: war work first the raising of $2000.00 for an ambulance to be called the
Laura Clay Ambulance.
Carried.
3 Mrs. Whitesides urged each league raise $1100.00 of the fund.
j Mrs. Hutchinson moved that Miss Clay be allowed to present the Ambu-
‘ lance to any County she desired and the Ambulance be painted yellow.
' Carried.
l 1 On motion the meeting adjourned to meet at 9:30 Saturday morning.
l Respectfully submitted,
Virginia R. McDowell, Secretary pro tem.
‘ MINUTES OF DECEMBER 1st.
l The Convention opened at 10:30 Dec. lst, 1917 at the Phoenix
l Hotel. The President in the chair. The first business was minutes of Nov.
1 30th, read and approved as read. Mrs. Breckinridge moved that the
‘ discussion on the platform be limited to 3 minutes and no person to speak
9 more than once until all desiring to speak should have done so.
i Carried. ‘
l

 Mrs. Breckinridge moved the adoption Of the part of the platform as ‘
signed by all members of committee. !
Carried. l
, PLATFORM
We, the Kentucky Equal Rights Association, at our Twenty-seventh
. Annual Convention, reaffirm our belief in the justice, expediency and
necessity of extending the franchise to woman and urge that all the
patriotic work for the war period shall be done by suffragists in their ‘
leagues as units. ,
' Resolved, That we urge the Kentucky Members of the United States ‘
House of Representatives and Senate to vote for and support the submission
of the Federal Amendment providing for the extension of suffrage to i \
women thoughout the nation; that they vote for and support the United 1
States Election Bill protecting the right of women to vote for Members of ‘
the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States; and, all l
other Federal legislation in behalf of Woman Suffrage approved by the
National American Woman Suffrage Association. Q
~ Resolved, That we endorse loyalty to local. State and National Gov- _
ernments for all our efforts including protection for women and children ‘
now uncared for. ‘
Resolved, That we endorse all efforts to suppress the social evil
through education and law. .
Resolved, That we rejoice in suffrage gains during 1917 especially ‘
in New York and in the endorsement of Woman Suffrage by many
National and State Church organizations. '
Resolved, That we reaffirm our non-partisan attitude concerning
‘ political parties; but this policy does not preclude the right of any member
to work against the election of any candidate of whatever political faith
who opposes woman suffrage. l
Resolved, That we co-operate generally with the National American 1
Woman Suffrage Association in carrying out its plan of work.
. . l
Resolved, That we present a presidential suffrage bill at the coming
Legislature. ‘
Resolved, That for the efficiency of our soldiers, the safe-guarding of ;
our women and children who are left unprotected; and, for the saving of l
6 .

 l
food materials now used for the manufacture of alcoholic liquors. We ’
l urge prohibition of such liquors during the war period.
' Laura Clay
Jessie Leigh Hutchinson
M. McD. Breckinridge
Mrs. Harry R. Whitesides
Caroline Leech, Chairman
Mrs. Breckinridge moved the adoption of the majority report.
‘ Mrs. Henning moved to substitute the following minority report for
1 the majority report lost:
l MINORITY REPORT
‘ Believing that the women in Kentucky are not ready to enter any
3 campaign for a State Amendment for woman suffrage, I object to this
1 resolution as embodying the best interests of our suffrage cause and move
it be stricken from the platform.
After much debate Mrs. Leech moved the debate be closed and
: reserved the privilege of the closing remarks.
- Carried.
‘ Mrs. Breckinridge moved the adoption of the majority report.
Mrs. Kelly moved the previous question, motion lost.
Mrs. Kelly moved that this be the first order of business after lunch.
‘ Carried.
Mrs. Judah, Chairman of Credentials reported 66 delegates present.
. Fayette 2], Louisville 4, McCracken I, Anderson 3, Shelby 1, Kenton 3,
Madison 12, Mason 2, Franklin H, Board 8.
Report accepted.
Miss Clay moved each delegate be allowed a delegation at large.
I Carried. '
‘ Chairman of Election reported the nominations. Mrs. Harrison mov-
ed the nominating ballot be made the Election ballot and the Secretary
l ' .
‘ cast the vote for the nominees.
. Carried. ,
. Other nominations were made from the floor but all withdrew in favor
i of those receiving the highest vote.
‘ 7

 The secretary cast the ballots for the following and announced their
' election. .
1st Vice-President—Mrs. E. L. Hutchinson
2nd Vice—President—Miss Clay
3rd Vice-President——Mrs. Leech
State Member of National Mrs. Edmund M. Post
Congressional Chairman Mrs. Samuel Henning
Recording Secretary Mrs. Robinson McDowell ~ -
Auditor Mrs. Joseph Alderson
On motion the meeting adjourned until after luncheon.
Respectfully submitted,
‘ Virginia R. McDowell, Secretary pro tem.
AFTERNOON SESSION 1
Session opened at 2:30; President presiding Mrs. Leech presented
Director of the General Federation presented greetings from the Kentucky
Federation of Women’s Clubs. Greetings from the D. A. R. presented by
Mrs. Shackleford. Regent elect. Greetings from the Council of Defense
presented by Mrs. Shelby Harbison. Miss Harrison greetings from Y. W. 1
C. A. Mrs. Stucky presented greetings from W. C. T. U. 1
. . . . 1
By the vote of morning sesswn the first busmess was to be the motion
to adopt the majority report of platform committee. The President called
for that business. Mrs. Smith moved that debate be limited to 3 minutes,
Carried. 1
After much discussion Mrs. Oldham moved the discussion be closed. 1
_ Carried. 1
On the vote to adopt the majority report vote stood 36 for, 9
against and 21 not voting. .
‘ Motion carried.
MAJORITY REPORT '
That we present to the next State Legislature a bill providing for the 1
submission of a constitutional amendment conferring upon women suffrage :
on the same terms as men, and, 1
‘ That since the National Democratic and Republican parties in endors- 1
ing the principle of Woman Suffrage have especially recognized the right 1
of States to settle that question for themselves, be it further resolved,
3 1
1
, 1

 ' 1
1
That we call upon these parties in our State to endorse and support 1
the enfranchisement of Kentucky women by the submission and adoption 1
of the constitutional amendment above referred to.
Laura Clay
Jessie Leigh Hutchinson ,
M. McD. Breckinridge 1
Mrs. Judah, Treasurer, asked for pledges and secured pledges amount— 1
ing to $1734.00. Mrs. Ora Adams presented greetings from the Eastern 1
Education Ass’n. Mrs. A. M. Harrison spoke of the Y. W. C. A. campaign,
1 part of the money was to be spent for the Hostess House at Camp Taylor. 1
" The following delegates were duly elected to the National Convention: 1
1 Mrs. Camden, Dr. Lawrence, Mrs. Samuel Castleman, Mrs. Thos. 1
1 Smith, Mrs. Ada May Cromwell, Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Willis, Mrs. Bennett, 1‘
1 Mrs. Shackleford, Miss Clay, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Lebus, Miss Hast, Mrs. ' 1
1 Oldham, Mrs. Ripy and Mrs. Chas. Firth. i
Alternates elected were:
1 Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Edwin Morrow, Mrs. Shanly Reed, Mrs. Drake,
Mrs. McDowell, Mrs. Shelby Harbison, Mrs. Ed. Hays, Dr. Ed. Hays, Miss
1‘ Eleanor Hume, Mrs. Hostetter, Mrs. Whitesides and Mrs. Alderson.
Mrs. McDowell moved that the President be allowed to fill the delega-
tion first alternate taking first vacancy, etc.
Carried.
1 Miss Clay moved that the President fill the delegation from any
1 members being in Washington.
Carried.
Mrs. Lowndes presented greetings from the Kentucky Federation of
Woman’s Clubs.
1 Miss Clay moved that any pledge the delegation made at the National
Convention include the $500.00 dues.
Carried. .
1 Mrs. McDowell moved that the President give out no credentials
1 until she arrived in Washington.
1 Carried.
1 9 ‘
l ,
l ‘ I

 Mrs. Whitesides, Campaign Chairman, spoke of the Campaign in
New York.
Mrs. McDowell moved to adjourn.
Motion carried and the Convention adjourned sine die.
‘ Respectfully submitted,
. Virginia R. McDowell, Secretary pro tem.
‘ PRESIDENT’S REPORT
November 27th, 1917. l
Members of the Convention and Friends:—
When the high honor of this office was conferred upon me I accepted l
fully realizing the great responsibility it imposed, I accepted with gladness ;
the opportunity to serve to the fulllest of my ability, but, with a deep sense l
of hesitation realizing that in assuming the mantel of my predecessors, ‘
I assumed a mantle rendered royal by service and brilliant accomplishment. 1
l
WORK DONE THIS YEAR. 1
The type of work done this year varies somewhat from that of previ- i
‘ ous years. We have not been financially able to keep the organizers or
‘ speakers in the field we should have had. Miss Lola Walker of the Nation- ‘
al was with us for one month; Mrs. Harry Whitesides has spoken for us in l
Owensboro, Hawesville, Irvington and Bowling Green. In some of these 1
places she re—organized leagues, which had not kept up their work. For, ‘
the past month Miss Beveridge from the National has been helping with j
the Federal Amendment work. Through the generosity of our Con- l
gressional Chairman, Mrs. Henning, we have been able to have the l
splendid service of Miss Beveridge. The President has spoken in fourteen I
towns, re-organizing some leagues and organizing four new leagues.
‘ CIRCULARIZATION 0F MINISTERS, POLITICIANS, LAWYERS,
DOCTORS, RETAIL RETAIL MERCHANTS .
AND MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE l
In February the entire ministry of the State was circularized, 2,300 ,
letters accompanied by literature especially prepared by the National, ‘
having been sent out. These letters were followed by letters from Miss ‘
Averill, Chairman of Church Work, urging the ministers to preach Mother's ‘
Day Sermon. The result was most encouraging, many letters coming to us
l0
l

 l
expressing good will and good wishes. In March, the political organiza- l
tions were circularized. The entire machinery of both parties receiving ‘
especially prepared literature and personal letters. In April and May,
lawyers, doctors and retail merchants were circularized. The letters
received from many of these classes of men show a great amount of
suffrage sentiment. The Kentucky Legislature was circularized three times ;
during their stay in Frankfort. While the Legislature was in session, a I
sixteen page edition of the Frankfort Journal, our daily paper, was edited 9
‘ by the Franklin County League. This edition was devoted entirely to l
suffrage news. A copy was placed upon the desk of every member. It l
contained statements from many men of International, National and State I
I prominence endorsing suffrage. These statements produced a profound . l
‘ impression upon many of the Members who had not realized the great
2 increase in suffrage sentiment. The Legislature was also circularized with l
l‘ the Woman Citizen and Senator Shafroth’s speech. ‘
l PLATE MATTER l
l Two pages of plate matter were printed in special suffrage editions in l
l February and two pages again in June. These editions were edited in ,
l many counties in the State. l
1 AID TO THE NATIONAL
l Miss Laura Clay and Mrs. Harry Whiteside went to New York and
l aided in the campaigning there. Kentucky was unable to aid in a financial
' way, but we have heard from New York that our speakers gave valiant
l service.
l PREPARATION FOR LEGISLATURE
l ' Letters have been sent from State Headquarters to every Member of
the Legislature of l9l8. Personal interviews have been held with many
of the Members. Sentiment is vastly changed and it seems now that this
‘ session will look kindly upon suffrage legislation.
l SCHOOL PRIZE
‘ One Hundred dollars was given in prizes for the best essay on Woman
Suffrage written by High School pupils. Considerable interest was mani-
‘ festecl in this contest. The first prize of $50.00 was won by Miss Hall of
. Sanders; the second prize of $25.00 by Miss Mosely of Henderson; the
third prize of $15.00 by Mr. Jennings Taylor of Paris; the fourth prize of
l l
l
l
l

 $10.00 by Miss Leathers of Lawrenceburg. In every instance it was
arranged to have the essays read aloud before open meetings at the school
and the prizes awarded by the principals of the schools. Through the
.J generosity of Miss Laura Clay $200.00 will be given this year in prizes.
There is no better form of suffrage propaganda.
‘ PATRIOTIC WORK
The largest piece of patriotic work undertaken by the suffragists was ‘
equipping the men of the battleship Kentucky with woolen outfits. Five
hundred were required; six hundred were furnished; four hundred by
suffragists, the remainder by patriotic women who wished to do something
for the Ship. Commander Dismukes of the “Kentucky" asks me to give
you the following message:
“In behalf of the men and officers of the "Kentucky," I beg of you
to transmit our thanks and deepest gratitude to the donors of these knitted
outfits. I wish I could express to you how grateful we are and how anxious
we are that our gratitude be known in some way to all the patriotic women
who have so generously given us these comforts. I assure you that every
garment will serve useful purposes, not alone for the creature comfort, but
V for the gratitude in our hearts that we are remembered by the women of J
, our dear country.n ,
RECOMMENDATIONS l
My recommendations are that each suffrage league form itself into a J
unit to do patriotic work, co-operating with the Red Cross and _any other J
patriotic organization. Suffragists are doing wonderful work in all organi- J .
zations, yet they are working as individual members, thus losing their J
identity as suffragists. J
Suffrage leagues should do the same work they have always done but I
, should do a great deal more of it, distributing literature, building up mem-
bership, securing newspaper publicity and winning converts whenever
possible. i -
I Every county president should feel responsible for the organization of J
her county and town by precincts. Until you have a good working com- J '
mittee in every precinct, you have no organization. Local women can J
perfect this organization far better than organizers who are not familiar ‘
with the leading progressive women of the town and county. J
Every District Chairman should feel the responsibility for the organi- ‘
zation of her district.
f2 . J J
J
J .

 In organization we trust; in this way can suffrage be won and no ‘
other.
PRESS WORK l
Press work is imperative. The day when the State office can get news l
printed free of charge is past. The editors must be made feel that there is l
a local demand for suffrage news. The county President should interview
the editor and ask that the paper print suffrage news. If she fails in this l
‘ she should circulate a petition among the subscribers to the paper who i
are suffragists and secure as many signatures as possible. This petition, if i
it contains a reasonable number of signatures, will gain the point. The l
county President should keep the editors well supplied with local news and i
our State Press Chairman will keep him supplied with National and State l
news. l
l
CONTRIBUTIONS
Every county league must feel its responsibility to contribute to the
State work. A few leagues contribute; a few individuals contribute gener-
ously, yet, the State work is handicapped for the lackof funds and a few
individuals carry a very heavy burden. ‘
; The county leagues must realize that the State depends upon them, ‘
‘ not they upon the State. I recommend that the suffragists put more l
l systematic, unselfish effort into their suffrage work, remembering always l
‘ the nobility of their cause.
3 We come together in this Convention cheered and encouraged by the
Q wonderful New York victory and well we may be. Suffrage has gone over
l i the top at last. The most important point has been captured, but let us
1 not forget that it took work, hard systematic work to win. Let Kentucky ‘
I arise and prepare to do her part splendidly in making the world safe for
democracy. 1
By some it is claimed that we should cease suffrage work on account l
_ of war. I would have you feel that you fight beside the man in the trench ‘
( for democracy.
3 . While gloom and sadness touch our hearts, the darkness of the war
‘ cloud is broken by the rainbow of promise. of freedom to all people.
1 The worth of liberty has so inspired the world that practically every
1 land is pouring out its blood and treasure upon the altar of National
freedom.
13

 The brazen serpent of democracy has been lifted high in the desert of
warring Europe that all men may gaze upon it and be healed of the
sickness of autocracy.
We have sent our flag across the seas. Our battle-cry—“The world
1 must be made safe for Democracy. We must first make Democracy safe.
Our Government must represent all its people.
Men and nations have realized that without woman's aid they cannot
I win the war. If we are good enough to give, good enough to serve, good
enough to send our own flesh and blood into the trenches, then we are good
enough for citizenship. If we give all, our Government must give some~
thing.
Men have not ceased to demand greater liberty, but in the warring
countries today, they are demanding fuller measures of citizenship. Why
should we cease in our demand when the countries in which the conflict
rages have taken the time and made the opportunity to give their women
citizenship. When the world realizing the results of autocracy is crying
out for Democracy. At the hour when our President has spoken out for us 1
and the scale of justice is bending our way, 'why should we give up the I
struggle nearly won.
I We must fight on that our land may fulfil its promise of making
. democracy safe to the world by first making it safe for us. Fight so that 1
we may be fully equipped for rendering the greatest service in upholding 1
the educational, moral and social standard, which will be left almost en- 1
tirely in our hands if the war continues. We must fight to win every pro-
tection and assistance for our sisters who have entered the industrial fields, 1 ‘
and who must toil there from sheer necessity. in every truth we are our
Sister's Keeper and in no lesser sense are we our Brother’s Keeper. We
must, above all, fight so that'the voice of woman may be heard in the 1
policies that must be outlined in the days of re-construction; that woman
, may be there to demand not wealth, not territory, not trade, but a structure 1
upon which an eternal peace may rest. 1
The victory is near at hand. The greatest men of all lands have seen _ 1
touched and are beginning to speak out for woman-kind. 1
The past with its bitter prejudice is behind us; the future with its
bright star of hope and victory is before us. Let us press on to the future
i with steady step and true. Let us fight for the good of our common
country.
Christine Bradley South. 1
l4

 REPORT OF RECORDING SECRETARY

Prepared report books for two conventions and Louisville Conference 1
in March 1916. Attended five Board Meetings and have written 225 1‘
letters. As a suffrage worker I spent uPatrotic Week" in Crittenden
County making six speeches to an'aggregate audience of 1600 people.

Four speeches were in different parts of the county; one in the evening at
Marion and one at the school chapel in the morning with all pupils

assembled. Made six Liberty Loan speeches in Daviess County; one at
the Bon Fire on the night of October 23rd. 1
Francis H. Hays, Recording Secretary. 1
The past year has not been as prosperous for the CLARK COUNTY
EQUAL RIGHTS LEAGUE as we had wished because the war and its
work has monopolized the public interest, yet the League has done its bit 1
and will continue to do all it can for the cause and the cause of our country. 1
_ 1
We marched as a league with our colors showing in the community 1
, preparedness parade in the spring. A handsome yellow banner donated by |
Miss Kate Keyes and made up by our 2nd Vice—President, Mrs. A. B. 1
Kohlhass showed the place in line where we stood. 1
1
We gave a lecture at the Opera House by the Rev. Herbert Yeuell, 1
1 for the benefit of the battleship Kentucky. Owing to the heavy expenses 1
it was not a great financial success and by the time the money was all 1
1 collected the ship was fitted out and out. State President wrote us to 1
1 spend it in the most patriotic way possible. Upon this advice we gave a ‘1
1 donation to the rest tent of the Second Kentucky Infantry; and another of
" yarn to be made into articles for the soldiers.
1 1
1 We assisted the Women’s Club in conducting a white elephant sale, a 1
1 portion of the proceeds of which were given to the Navy League to buy 1
1 yarn. 1
' Our members as individuals have made housewives and knitted and 1
1 contributed to the 'Red Cross. 1
l A partial canvass of the city of Winchester was made to promote war
gardens. 1
Every member of the league, so far as we can learn, is doing her bit 1
toward conserving food in the home.
Our league boasts of a membership of over 200; not all of them,
‘ however. are working members. Sometimes we grow discouraged, but as
I5 1

 l .
we look back and see what we have done since last fall we realize that we
have done fairly well. i
Two sub—leagues were established at Becknerville and Schollsville
through the efforts of Miss Lola Walker and the officers of the County
League.
Suffrage was placed before most of the children of the county schools
through the kindness of our beloved President, Mrs. John G. South.
A list of every male Voter in Clark County, irrespective of party or 1
color, was made for the State organization, and a copy for ourselves, by
two of our energetic and untiring young ladies, Misses Mildred Glover and
Ellis Kohlhass, assisted by Mr. Lucien Beckner.
In response to a call from our National and State Presidents to issue a
suffrage paper, we issued one from the Press of the Clark County Repub- .
lican, and mailed it to every white voter in the county and to most of the l
colored ones. l
In conjunction with the W. C. T. U. we put out a ticket for school l
trustee this fall. I
I, We also gave a lecture at the Court House by Miss Curry Breckin- l
‘ ridge, for the benefit of the hospital reserve unit, Which Dr. David Barrow ‘
of Lexington has organized; and our members have worked individually l
for this cause as well as for the Navy League. ‘ ‘
This completes the tale of our efforts for the past year. l
Respectfully submitted, ‘
REPORT OF CRITTENDEN COUNTY l
~ Although it had been planned at the beginning of the year to hold
regular meetings once a month, the Crittenden Co. Equal Suffrage League
met only twice during the year.
_ Members have been active in war work, gardening, canning. Red I ‘
Cross, etc. In July members of the League appeared with a Committee of ,
~ prominent business men, before the Fiscal Court to ask an appropriation l
for a County Demonstrator. This appointment was granted, and within a l
week a Demonstrator was at work in the County teaching the farmers ‘
.. wives how to conserve the surplus fo