Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-21
WlLLWORKINSECRET
Equal Sufragists Not Willing to
Give Out Plans.
OT1UMWA WOMAN ON COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee, by Ma
pority Vote, Has Decided to Sup
press Information Regarding Move.
ments for Lobbying This Winter.

Des Moines, Nov. 1S.-Iowa equal
suffragists have decided to conduct
their campaign against the Twenty
ninth general assembly with a great
deal of secrecy during the six or eight
weeks intervening between the pres
ant time and the meeting of the legis-
lature in January.
Mrs. Nellie Nelson, corresponding
secretary of the Iowa Equal Suffrage
association has returned from Water
/ loo, where she has been for four days
attending the state convention OF the
association.
When asked by reporter concern
ing the plans for legislative work this
winter, Mrs. Nelson said that she was
unable to make them public for the
reason that the executive committee
| had discussed the matter and had de-
cided, by a majority vote, to suppress
such information. so far as possible,
during the time intervening between
the convention and the converting Of
I the legislature.
The executive committee is COM
posed of eleven members, as follows:
Mrs. Adelaide Ballard of Hull, presi-
dent; Mrs. Evelyn H. Belden of Sioux
City, vice president; Mrs. Nellie Mel
son of Sheldon. corresponding Secre-
tary; Mrs. Eleanor c.. Stockman Of
Mason City, recording secretary; Mrs.
Anna Ankeny, Des Moines, treasurer;
Mrs. Mary Coggeshall, of Des Moines,
member of N. w. S. A., Amelia S. Bon
ham, of Ottumwa, and Daisy leighton
of Shenandoah, auditing committee;
Mrs. Kate Powers, Sheldon; Mrs.
vi nd Flnrnnnp
Maskery, Maquoketa.
1t is generally understood that Mrs.
Evelyn H. Belden will assume active
charge of the legislative work, al
though this is point which the suf-
fragists will not discuss. Mrs. Bel.
den was actively identified with the
work two years ago and came near Sc
curing the required constitutional ma
pority in both houses.
Mrs. Belden declared herself at the
convention as being confident of sue
cess this winter. Il feel the same way
about the matter, said Mrs. Nelson
this morning. Everything points to
success this winter. We have much
better organization than ever before
We have also increased our member
ship nearly twice, have plenty of mon
ey with which to carry on the work
this year. and altogether feel very Sc
cure of our position. OF course, if We
are defeated-we never call it that
though--we will try it again mex
time
Mrs. Nelson was asked about the
reception of the news that Mrs. Glare
Belle Brown had come out from Wash
ingtop to battle with the suffragists
We'll, the matter was discussed
among the women and laughed at. L
was not mentioned in the convention
Nobody deemed it of any Importance
(, don't know whether Mrs. Beldel
= could be persuaded to meet Mrs
Brown in open debate or not, but
4 think so. Debate and discussion ha
: always been longed for by the suffras
: lists and / am sure that they will no
u back out if an opportunity is offered
y The suffragists are very glad that tn
!, y opposition is to be open and abov
!, , board, if there is to be opposition, an
! there always has been
Mrs Nelson sayS that petitions will
: be circulated only in counties wher
there is any doubt as to the result, o
in counties where the sentiment an
the representatives ave known to b
: against suffrage.
. Mrs. Gait did not attend the stat
convention, being in Nebraska AZ tn
= time of the meeting attending tn
. state convention in that state. How
!. ever, with none Of the national officer
q present the convention was the mos
u largely attended and the most enth,
siastic in the history of the associ;
ton. The people of Waterloo bore til
,. entire expense of the associatio
g meeting, something which has neve
been done in any previous instance.
:. Mrs. Belden will speak to the Bus
- ness Mems club of Webster City t
. morrow evening. About six month
g ago the business men of that city form
D. !, ed club, the object of which was
~ secure for each Sunday evening lie
y ture or talk by some person of di
~ tinction or prominence. Mrs. Belde
- appeared before the club last wintt
~ and was so well liked that a reque
- was made for her appearance agai
~ ~ this year Mrs. Nelson made the a
- engagements for Mrs. Beldens appea
- ance, the request being made to I'll
- = associations headquarters.