New-York tribune., 1909-11-09
DUES REDUCED
Mrs. Mackay Wants Wage
Earners an Her .Sociefu

The New York Equal Franchise Society
wants 10 gain the support Of self-supporting
women. and to that end has reduced its
oues from a year 10 s.. The change
was announced at the annual meeting OF
the society at the Colony club yesterday
and Will go into effect ON November Il
The ballot means so much more 10 self
supporting women than to ofhe.rs" the
president, Mrs. Clarence Mackay ex-
plained that il Is absolutely necessary
that We sheuld have their complete sup
port The wage Garner needs the ballot So
that she may express through legislation
what she fees her working day and hours
should be. Women I'm this state earn their
hNing under man-msde laws. and il is i'm
possible for men 10 appreciate the condi-
lions under which it is necessary that
women should work
The society also wants 10 enlist the in
terest Of every other class Of women who
want the ballot.
There are women who feel they need the
ballot 10 protect their homes Mrs. Mackay
continued. They are indirectly affected by
the tarin and all food laws The house.
wife Is or represents the consumer Other
women want the ballot because they are
ready willing and competent 10 give the
state service in those Offices where they can
DO the work as well as IL not better than
men. IL is because We wish 10 bring all
the women We can into our society that we
have reduced our dues. but We hope that
those who can afford 20 do so will still
continue 20 pay g. or more We want the
dues TO meet the expenses so that the So
eiety will not be under financial obliga-
tion 70 any one person"
Mrs. Mackay also reported that the So
cieiy had affiliated with the national or
gauization.
Suffrage should present united front"
she explained. We want 10 be so organ
lied as TO be a power in the city state
and nation. and We will cooperate with all
other suffrage organizations when We feel
il wise for Us 10 do so"
Abiding 10 the course of lectures which
are TO begin on December Is al the Garden
Theatre. Mrs. Macksy asked the members
70 try 10 sell tickets 10 their opponents so
that the latter might come and be con-
verted.
We have repeatedly invited the mem
bers of the anti-sunrage societies TO meet
us in debate" she said. but we have
never been able 10 get them 10 do so. II
seems great pity. because if these ladies
and gentlemen were willing TO state their
reason for opposing US in a public debate.
we should be very glad 10 have an op-
portunity Of answering any OF their logical
objections. They prefer the indirect meth
Ods Of a closed platform, and We have 10
make the best Of the situation"
In conclusion Mrs. Mackay said that the
women OF the Equal Franchise Society
were working for the ballot because they
were women.
.'Our opponents" she said, accuse US
OF being restless and discOntented with
our homes. out we want 70 preserve the
hreside by enforcing q uniform divorce
law. We want 10 keep our homes, protect
womanhood and serve the state"
The chairman OF the publicity and pub
lication COMMITTEES. Mrs. J. J. Finch. an
nounced that the society was about TO
enter upon an educational campaign de-
signed 10 reach every man. woman ana
child in the United States who can read"
The committee has taken Office in the
Metropolitan Life Building. opposite Mrs.
Mackay's and S.lo0 has been appropriated
for its use. Its first pamphlet on How
the BaIIo; VIII Help the Working Woman"
Is just out
Mrs Frederick Nathan reported for the
treasurer. Mrs. Philip Lydg that the re
ceipts Of the year had been Sl,6l6 10, and
that there was a balance on hand of
y.05S Contributions from Mrs. Mackay.
Miss Dorothy Whitney, Mrs. Lydig and
Mrs Nathan made up $40 of this sum.
and Slco came from eleven life members
paying 500 each. The total membership
is 2A
After the meeting Mrs. Finch Informed
the reporters that Mrs. Msckay would have
been one Of the women appointed 10 the
School Board by Mayor Mcclellan but for
the fact that MI Mackays voting resi-
dence is Roslyn. Mrs. Macksy was named
for this once by the Greater New York
Woman Suffrage Convention