News Articles

August 22, 1912.

To the Members of The Grange:—- As Acting President of the State Equal Suffrage Association I wish to ask your organization to co-operate with us in every way possble [sic] to gain votes for our cause November 5, 1912.

I would suggest that you organize equal suffrage clubs, even if the membership be small to begin with. If this is not advisable, then hold parlor meetings with the assistance of some local speaker. A question box usually brings out a lively discussion and adds interest in the meetings and the cause.

If the Grange members would make it a point to have a speaker for the suffrage cause at their regular meetings, with an occasional open meeting, from now until November, it would aid greatly in securing votes for the cause. We will gladly assist you at any time in securing speakers. Our slogan is “Vote for Amendment No. 1.”

Yours for Justice,
MRS. HENRY WALDO [COE]

A Letter To The Grange Sisters

Dear Sisters – We are printing this month a few of the letters we have received from different organizations that are working for the political equality of women, in which they are asking for the cooperation of the Grange women. You will see that the general public is beginning to recognize the far reaching influence of the Grange and that we, the women of the Grange, have “arrived.”

The Grange is now felt to be a potent factor in shaping the political destinies of our state, and workers for any movement that looks to the bettering of conditions have learned that the Grange and its women are not a negligeble [sic] quantity. It is now our opportunity to fulfill these opinions and to demonstrate our strength, so we appeal to every woman of every Grange to use her personal influence, and to not only do this, but to make definite efforts to awaken active interest in this issue of “Votes for Women.”

Doubtless you have all seen the report recently made by the “Vice Commission” of Portland regarding the terrible prevalence of the “Social Evil” in that city. The influence of such conditions can not remain local, they will reach out to every surrounding community with an ever widening circle; none of our children are safe from its degrading and damning power. Do you not think it is time women had a voice in the control of such a destroying octopus? We must muster ourselves, and now is the auspicious turn of the tide which will lead us on to success if we will only avail ourselves of its rising sweep.

HATTIE L. VAIL

Dear Mrs. Vail:

“Your work is all the same:
Work together or work apart,
Work each of you, with all your heart—-
Just get into the game.”

That is what every woman who has at heart the cause of women and children asks of every other woman—-“Just get into the game.”

There is no doubt that the rank and file of Oregon people are interested in equal suffrage; the question is how much. The greatest menace to the work for equal suffrage to-day is the do-nothing attitude of those who feel that the measure is going to carry anyway. The opposition is not depending upon such quiescence to gain their end.

We are told by men again and again, “When the women really want the vote, we will give it to them.” So the women of Oregon are learning to stand shoulder to shoulder, and to work actively, in season and out of season, to show that this time they are really in earnest. Every man and woman in the state who believes in Amendment No. I, should join in the great procession of those who are willing to march, as marched the women of New York, for an idea. That means you can’t keep out of the game.

We need not only sympathy but also active workers. We are sending outay [sic] call to every sympathizer to buckle on the armour [sic] of activity and to keep it on for the next two months. From the effort of one may spring the impetus to carry your city, your township, your county. On the enthusiasm of one may hang the welfare of thousands of women and children. It is our hope that Nov. 5, will bring a solid Pacific front for equal suffrage and that Oregon in filling up the gap may roll up a majority so overwhelming that the word of it will arouse the cast. That is why we are asking every one to “get into the game.”

EMMA WOLD
President College Equal Suffrage League

Portland, Oregon, Aug. 16, 1912.
Mrs. Hattie L. Vail, Rural Delivery, Lents, Oregon.

Dear Mrs. Vail: - Knowing that you have charge of one of the departments of the Grange Paper, as President of the Men’s Equal Suffrage Club, I would like to impress upon you to do what you can for our cauce [sic]. I was much pleased to see that, at the last meeting of the State Grange held in Roseburg, a unanimous resolution giving equal rights to women. The Grange can always be depended upon to deal out justice, and it certainly is unjust to keep women from the right of voting. An American citizen cousiders [sic] the right of franchise the highest privilege granted him, and, if this is a high privilege for men, why isn’t it equally so for women. Would like to say that our Men’s Equal Suffrage Club is in a very flourishing condition, and we have every reason to believe that the initiative amendmet [sic] to the constitution, which will be number one on the ballot, will be carried at the November Election by a large majority.

Hoping you will do what you can for this cause through the columns of your paper, I remain,
Yours very sincerely,
W.M. Davis
President Men’s Equal Suffrage Club.

Portland, Oregon, Aug. 16, 1912.
Mrs. Hattie L. Vail, Rural Delivery, Lents, Oregon.

Dear Mrs. Vail: - Knowing that you have charge of one of the departments of the Grange Paper, as President of the Men’s Equal Suffrage Club, I would like to impress upon you to do what you can for our cauce [sic]. I was much pleased to see that, at the last meeting of the State Grange held in Roseburg, a unanimous resolution giving equal rights to women. The Grange can always be depended upon to deal out justice, and it certainly is unjust to keep women from the right of voting. An American citizen cousiders [sic] the right of franchise the highest privilege granted him, and, if this is a high privilege for men, why isn’t it equally so for women. Would like to say that our Men’s Equal Suffrage Club is in a very flourishing condition, and we have every reason to believe that the initiative amendmet [sic] to the constitution, which will be number one on the ballot, will be carried at the November Election by a large majority.

Hoping you will do what you can for this cause through the columns of your paper, I remain,
Yours very sincerely,
W.M. Davis
President Men’s Equal Suffrage Club.