News Articles

COLLEGE LEAGUE FORMS
Mrs. Henry W. Coe Head of Oregon Suffrage Body.
Students Eligible; Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway Chosen Honorary President for State

The first chapter of the national College Equal Suffrage league to be formed in the state perfected its organization yesterday with the adoption of a constitution and bylaws and the election of officers. The meeting was held in the committee room of the Multnomah Hotel.

As a recognition of her pioneer work in the cause in the West Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway was elected honorary president of the new chapter by a unanimous vote, after a speech by Mrs. A. E. Borthwick, in which she paid high tribute to the work done by Mrs. Duniway. Mrs. Henry W. Coe was elected active president of the new organization.

The league was formed tentatively February 12th at a meeting held at the residence of Mrs. R. L. Donald. At that time Miss Charlotte Anita Whitney, National secretary of the league, addressed those assembled and outlined the league’s aims and purposes. The work of organizing a similar chapter of the league among the women students at the University of Oregon was begun last week.

Membership in the league is limited to women graduates of colleges or universities, and to women students who have been at least one year engaged as students at such institutions. This last provision is a departure from the bylaws of the National league, and was adopted for the purpose of making the influence of the league as broad as possible during the coming campaign. The question of admitting men to membership may be taken up later.

The object of the league is to interest college women in a scientific study of the question, to equip them to enter the campaign actively with arguments, both oral and writen[sic]. The Portland chapter will hold weekly meetings hereafter. The meeting day has been set for Tuesday and sessions will be held alternately at the Multnomah Hotel and at the homes of the members. A subscription list, headed by Mrs. L. W. Therkelsen, who contributed $100 at the meeting and offered to give $25 monthly during the campaign, was started yesterday.

Officers elected are:
Honorary president, Mrs. Abigail Scott Duniway; president, Mrs. Henry W. Coe; vice-presidents, Mrs. L. W. Therkelsen, Mrs. Andre Fouilhoux, Dr. Mae Cardwell, Mrs. E.  L. Taggert, Mrs. J. B. Kerr; secretary, Mrs E. Wold; treasurer, Mrs. E.T. Taggart; directors. Dr. Marie D. Equi, Mrs. A. A. Lindsley, Mrs. Henry Hunt, Mrs. C. Edward Grelle, Dr Kittie Plummer-Gray.

The following committees were appointed: Publicity, Mrs. L. W. Therkelsen, Mrs. F. S. Senn, Dr. Marie V. Madigan, Mrs. Margaret Hoge; finance, Dr. Florence Manion, Mrs. A. E. Borthwick, Miss Emma Buckman, Mrs. Sarah Ehrgott; literature, Mrs. E. T. Taggart, Dr. Katherine Manion, Mrs. N. W. Shaw, Mrs. F. B. Riley; press, Mrs. E. Wold, Mrs. L. B. Trullinger.

WOMEN DISCUSS BALLOT
Suffrage and Training for Girls Subjects Before W. C. T. U.

Multnomah County W. C. T. U. held a county institute Tuesday at Calvary Presbyterian Church. The subjects up for papers and discussion were women suffrage and industrial training for girls. Mrs. Alice Hanson opened with a paper, “The Power of Women Without the Ballot,” showing the good work done during the ages, in spite of great obstacles. Mrs. Houston told of the need of the ballot to enable women to carry reform measures. A discussion followed, in which emphasis was laid on the need of a direct method of attack through the ballot, rather than an indirect one of petition through personal appeal. Mrs. Markham told “Why the State Needs My Ballot,” showing that in the states where the ballot prevails the first work has been to obtain legislation protecting women and girls and children in the labor world. She quoted from the Governors of states where women vote, testifying to the good work accomplished therein in passing and enforcing good laws. Miss F. Gottshall gave reasons “Why I Want the Ballot.” She said: “It will give me the power to correct many abuses. I can work for the safety and protection of little children any young girls. Let us prepare ourselves for the ballot.”
Mrs. Lora C. Little spoke on “Harmful Drugs,” speaking of a long list of soothing syrups, headache powders and the like which contained opium, caffeine and cocaine and are highly dangerous. She condemned many soft drinks.
After a lunch hour in the basement, the programme was taken up. Mrs. M. L. Hidden told of the social and red letter days of the W. C. T. U., which have been observed for many years, Mothers’ day being one of them, and Frances Willard Memorial day another. Mrs. L. H. Additon and Mrs. L. Baldwin talked on the girl problem, emphasizing the need of proper training of these, “for the girls of today are the mothers of tomorrow.” They advocated an industrial training school for delinquent girls, and the need of preventive and education work in their behalf. They emphasized the need of woman’s vote, as well as old-fashioned mothers.
Mr. Crichton enumerated the laws for the protection of women and girls on the Oregon statute books, and urged the need of having them enforced. A medal contest was held in the evening. Fine music was interspersed with the readings.

WOMEN DISCUSS BALLOT
Suffrage and Training for Girls Subjects Before W. C. T. U.

Multnomah County W. C. T. U. held a county institute Tuesday at Calvary Presbyterian Church. The subjects up for papers and discussion were women suffrage and industrial training for girls. Mrs. Alice Hanson opened with a paper, “The Power of Women Without the Ballot,” showing the good work done during the ages, in spite of great obstacles. Mrs. Houston told of the need of the ballot to enable women to carry reform measures. A discussion followed, in which emphasis was laid on the need of a direct method of attack through the ballot, rather than an indirect one of petition through personal appeal. Mrs. Markham told “Why the State Needs My Ballot,” showing that in the states where the ballot prevails the first work has been to obtain legislation protecting women and girls and children in the labor world. She quoted from the Governors of states where women vote, testifying to the good work accomplished therein in passing and enforcing good laws. Miss F. Gottshall gave reasons “Why I Want the Ballot.” She said: “It will give me the power to correct many abuses. I can work for the safety and protection of little children any young girls. Let us prepare ourselves for the ballot.”
Mrs. Lora C. Little spoke on “Harmful Drugs,” speaking of a long list of soothing syrups, headache powders and the like which contained opium, caffeine and cocaine and are highly dangerous. She condemned many soft drinks.
After a lunch hour in the basement, the programme was taken up. Mrs. M. L. Hidden told of the social and red letter days of the W. C. T. U., which have been observed for many years, Mothers’ day being one of them, and Frances Willard Memorial day another. Mrs. L. H. Additon and Mrs. L. Baldwin talked on the girl problem, emphasizing the need of proper training of these, “for the girls of today are the mothers of tomorrow.” They advocated an industrial training school for delinquent girls, and the need of preventive and education work in their behalf. They emphasized the need of woman’s vote, as well as old-fashioned mothers.
Mr. Crichton enumerated the laws for the protection of women and girls on the Oregon statute books, and urged the need of having them enforced. A medal contest was held in the evening. Fine music was interspersed with the readings.

SUFFRAGIST DECLARES T.R. IS HALFHEARTED

Espousal of Cause Criticised [sic] at Meeting by Mrs. Helen H. Greely.

Theodore Roosevelt’s recent editorial in the Outlook was mde the butt of criticism by the New York suffrage leader. Mrs. Helen H. Greely, one of the speakers at last night’s reception of the Portland Woman’s Suffrage League in the home of Mrs. J. G. Gauld, on King street. The editorial was declared to be a half-hearted espousal of the cause and based upon grounds that the leaders of the movement care very little about while Mr. Roosevelt himself was referred to as the “Omnipotent Oom of the Outlook and Oyster Bay.”
In speaking of the editorial’s superficiality, Mrs. Greely said that it was very apparent that he had missed the fine significance of the movement, and that while he wrote of duty that it was that very high conception of duty that had laid the foundation for the entire movement.

“When our republic was founded the women,” said she, “began to realize how important was their duty to the state and then and there began to work for a chance to express it. it came first through the granting of educational rights, then civic and now is coming in the recognition of their political rights.”

An amusing incident occurred during the evening, when Mrs. Greely, in telling of the blind prejudices that had once been held in regard to higher education for women, told of a stubborn old Newburyport citizen who exclaimed: “What public moneys to educate shes? Never!”  In telling the story she happened to turn to the chairman, William D. Wheelright, who in his introductory speech admitted no allegiance to the cause of woman’s suffrage. A furtive smile crept over his face when the allusion was made to the “stubborn Newburyport citizen” and at the close of the meeting he announced that he himself had been born in Newburyport, and possibly in order to disprove his own stubbornness he registered as a member of the league, along with some 25 other guests. Although it is one of the youngest leagues to be formed, the Portland Woman’s Suffrage League is destined to be one of the large leagues in the state and doubtless will wield an important influence, as its membership includes some of the best-known club and society women of the city besides many well-known business and professional men. Other speakers at last night’s meeting were Miss Anita Whitney, of San Francisco, and President Foster, of Reed College.