Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-01
Iowa Equal suffragists VIII War
for Their Principles.
EACH COUNTY WILL BE CANVASS Ed
Much Literature is Being Sent Out
This Part of the State to Receive At
tention-Will Make Effort to Influ-
ence Legislature.

Des Moines, Dec. 27.-The State
Equal Suffrage Association has all it's
plans perfected for the commence
ment of an aggressive campaign at
the first of the year. A number of
new organizers will be placed in the
field and the work will be carried on
with energy until next June, when it is
the intention to have every county in
the state organized SO that there may
be ninety.nine representatives from
this state at the national convention,
which will be held at Minneapolis dur
ing the month of June. Those who are
interested in the work propose to full
fill the wishes of the national organic
ers and do everything possible to
make Iowa a suffrage state. The head
quarters of the suffragists are open all
the time, and the work is never allow
ed to cease. Literature is being sent
out continually.
Mrs. Nellie Nelson, the correspond
ing secretary, has charge of the work,
and in a measure takes the place of
the state chairmen of the political par
ties. She is to be found at the head
quarters in the Equitable building
most of the time. A large amount of
new literature will be received early
in the year, and it will be sent out ov-
er the state as soon as possible. 1t
will consist mostly of records of the
elections in the states where women
are permitted to vote. Their influence
at the last election will be discussed,
as we'll as other matters calculated to
have an influence upon people opposed
to suffrage. Their conduct at the polls
r1ysn No hn Af oil
sion, as this is one of the things that
has been somewhat spoken of in the
daily press in disparaging way.
Organizers at Work.
The work of organizers during the
next few months has not been entirely
outlined. DR.. Frances Wood, who was
elected state organizer at the last con-
Ivention, has not decided whether she
will be able to go into the field or not.
| At least four others will go out, how
ever. Mrs. e. H. Belden, the state
president, will deliver number of
lectures and assist in the work of or
ganizing as much as possible. Mrs.
| Nelson also expects to make several
trips. Mrs. Dolly Romans Bradley ex-
| poets to do as much work as possible
but has not decided just how much
| time she will be able to devote to
work in the field. Miss Mabel Horner
of Lamont, expects to devote most OF
/ her time to organizing clubs.
The work will be carried on all over
the state. AS the eleventh district is
the best organized at present, most goi
the time will be devoted to other parts
of the state. The southeastern corner
of the state will be given special atten
ton. AT present there are organiza
tons in most of the counties Of the
Estate. Those which are not organized
will be given extra work, and Others
which have weak county organizations
will come next. At present there are
number of counties that have only
one club. 1t is expected that where
there is one club that this club will
exert itself to organize at least one
more This year a special effort will
be made to double the number Of
clubs.
The suffragists have come to the
conclusion that the only way to accom-
plish their end is to make organiza
lions so strong that they will be able
to influence majority of the mem
bers of the legislature. The organiza
ers are of the opinion that if they car
secure strong organization in each
county it will have an influence thai
the member from that county will MOI
be able to resist. A much stronger
pressure will be brought to bear OF
the members of the legislature the
next session than the last. All thai
the suffragists will ask viii be to have
the question submitted to the people
and they hope to accomplish this al
the next session,