Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23
VERMONT GIRL
REAL SUFFRAG|ST
Daughter of Congressman Foster
Has Distinguished Associates
in Washington.

Washington. Dec. 1o-Miss Ma bel Fos-
ter. the daughter OF REPRESENTATIVE Fos-
ter Of Vermont. IS president of the
Washington branch Of the college EQUAL
suffrage League. an organization of
Young women pledged to obtain the right
OF franchise for the women Of the Uni
tea states. There are about 20 members
OF the organization IN Washington. in
cludirg Mrs. Herbert Parsons. wife oe
Representative Parsons of New York.
Mrs. La Toilette. wife OF the g%cnator
from Wisconsin and other equally wolf
known women.
MISS Foster Is nN ardent s%uffraCist, al
though not cf the militant ;ync that
has DISTINGUISHED itself in England dur
ing the past year or two. She believes
il. reaceah!c agitation and IN educating
the people If the country to tho adj
vantages Of omen suffrnre. Miss Fog
tor is certain that much has already been
lore in the way Of cducation and chat
the work will continue until tho FRAN
chise will DC conferred upon American
women. Wher this golden age will dawn.
Miss Poster dies not venture to pro
dict.
A Bryn Mawr graduate. Miss Foster.
learned something Of the suffrage move
mcnt while studying Greek and matho-
MATES and acquiring the accomplish
n hts that 20 with q modern college cdu-
cation. Miss VI. Cary Thomas. president
Of Bryu Mav;r. is president Of the ma
tional organization OF tho College Equal
Suffrage league, with which many New
England women are identified.
OVER 1000 MEMBERS.
This organization was formed ut Buff
falo in 1908 to promote the cause nf
equal suffrage among college women.
graduate and undergraduate. It's mem
bershiro Is composed of college girls and
the alumnae OF wonlcn's colleges
throughout tho land. The object of the
organization, according to MisG Foster.
was to establish a medium through which
the Young women Of the country could
work for suffrage. The National Amer.
lean Women's Suffrage association Is
said to include in It's membership prin-
cip.lly older women. The headquarters
@. the colleg. league are in New York
city. 1t Is affiliated with the nationa'
association and co-operatcs with it. Ac-
cording to lie latest information. the
college league has "A branches in Il
States and % chapters in as many col
leees tho total membership being be-
tween 1900 ard 3,N0.
While Miss Foster was attending Bryr
Mawr, Mrs. Maud Wood Park of Boston
travelling organizer for the league, visit
ed the PENNSYLVANIA college and organ
tied a chapter OF the league. Miss Eos
ter became interested in the matter ant
on coming to Washington after he'
graduation she identified herself with The
Washington branch Of the organization
The first meeting of this branch was helt
at the home Of Mrs Fitzgerald, daughteI
Of the late Rear Admiral walker. presi
dent of the Old canal commission, am
who is now a resident of Boston.
TO REVIVE ORGANIzATION.
Tho first president of the Washington
branch was Mrs. Herbert Parsons. Up
on her resignation the choice for presi
dent narrowed down between Mrs. l.;
Follotte and Miss Foster. The latte
was elected head OF the local branch las
June. Since then the organization ha
not been very active, but Miss Foste
proposes to hold a series Of meeting
during the winter.
At these meetings there will d. discus
s!ons Of various important phases u tn
suffrage question by leaders In the move
uent. TIE Washington branch expect
ia entertain prominent suffragists in IN
future. as il has in tie past. IT wa
through It's efforts that Mrs. Snowder
Mrs. Pankhurst, Miss Ethel Arnold an
Mrs. Golden Sanderson, the wel-knoW
English s~uffrasists. lectured al the cap
tai.
Resides holding meetings and promotin
lectures, the College Equal sufraH
League is Joining in the circulation OF
petition 20 Congress In favor OF women
suffrage The Washington suffra8iS'
maintained a booth at a food show thHr
rccentlv. when several thousand sign'
t lures were secured to the petition. IT
: league also publishes matter to promo
! tho cause. a photography OF women
: surrage literature Is now in course
! preparatlon, which Is expected to ne u
| most complete publication OF its kind
existence.
| Mr. FOSTER ALMOST CONVERTED
IT (. probable that a mammoth pc
, ton ~favorins suffrage will be preeoht'
), IN Congress. this winter. Many pc
. tons have already been hled win co
), rr.s, and numerous hearings on Il
RllhieCt nave Deeu l'.i 'N''-
,lonal committees. but all in vain, Nj
Foster believes that the time ~ n
far distant when the persistence OF I
su~fyragists will be rewarded.
y Miss Foster has not quite succeed
in converting her father to the eau
OF suffrage, although he sympatAiZts W.
il her aims. He believes that a leslslat
y should keep his mind open on any subJf
d that is likely to come before him official
Mr.. Foster, however. consented to int!
ducc Mrs. Snowden when she iectured
fore a distinguished audience in Washir
ton recently.
Mr.. Fosters caution rs not shared
another prominent Vermont man. Just
Wendell Phillips stafford OF the Distr
Of Columbia Supreme Court On 'he
casion of Mrs. Snowden's lecture Juo
=. stafford personally pledged her his 81
- mort to the cause of wornen's suffrage
Id Nh ONC IN0IIIREC E0R HE