“Equal Rights Indorsed: W.C.T.U. Behind Movement to Give Women Ballot,” Oregonian, January 06, 1912, 16.
-Transcription
EQUAL RIGHTS INDORSED
W. C. T. U. BEHIND MOVEMENT TO GIVE WOMEN BALLOT.
Plans to Entertain Delegates to National Convention This Year Discussed at Institute.“The hand that rocks the cradle should mark the ballot,” was the slogan at the institute held yesterday in the Woodstock Methodist Church by the County Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Addresses were delivered on the movement to give women in Oregon equal suffrage.
The speakers pointed out that men who have opposed giving women the ballot are falling in line for the movement. The franchise movement and the coming National convention for Portland this year divided the attention of the institute. It was the unanimous sentiment of the institute that no effort should be spared to make the convention the best in the history of the organization, and every union represented pledged its utmost efforts to make it so.
Mrs. Ada W. Unruh, state president, announced that the White Temple had been secured for the National convention. Mrs. Unruh told about the National convention held in Milwaukee last year, and outlined what may be expected in Portland this year. She said that the Multnomah County unions are to take care of and entertain the delegates to the convention. She made an appeal for loyal and self-sacrificing work on the part of every member in the county and state. She declared that the convention will be a revelation to the Northwest and will show what the Women’s Christian Temperance Union is doing for the Nation.
“Franchise” was the subject of an address by Mrs. Georgia Trimble. In the suffrage movement Mrs. Mary Mallet, county president, announced that she had recalled the appointment of the county suffrage committee and had placed the campaign in the hands of Mrs. Trimble, with the assistance of the suffrage committees from each union of the county. Mrs. Mallet announced that addresses will be given in the suffrage campaign and meetings held under the auspices of the County Women’s Christian Union, as it is the pioneer of the movement. Mrs. Unruh spoke on the subject and declared that the outlook for success of suffrage in Oregon had never been more promising, and pointed out that many prominent men who had heretofore opposed giving women the ballot now favor it.
“The hand that rocks the cradle should also be the hand to mark the ballot,” said Mrs. E. R. Martin, formerly superintendent of suffrage of South Dakota, in her talk on the subject. Mrs. Martin pointed out that there was work to be done among women who are opposed to the franchise movement. Several other addresses were made.
The question “Should the ballot be given the women of Oregon?” was debated and decided in the affirmative last night. Mrs. Unruh completely routed Mrs. Helen Harford and Mrs. Alice Hanson, who spoke for the negative, and they admitted at the end of the debates that they were themselves soundly converted to the affirmative.