Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-27

THIRST of women to be nominated
h for the presidency of the United
II States, an American, Mrs. Vic
toria woodruff Martin, Is now setting
the women of England an example II
the practical methods by which the
battle of their sex for more rights may
be won.
Not only Is she employing part of hel
great wealth in agitation and In ad-
vancing the campaign, which enlists the
energy of the getler sex in John Bull {
realm TO an extent not understood IN
the United States, but, assisted by hel
daughter, Maud woodruff, she is turn
ing the English village In which she
lives into Utopia.
Forty years ago the name of Victoria
woodruff was well known in the United
States. Its owner was one of the early
group of American women who trS'
stirred agitation against the laws that
deprived their sex of an adequate part
in discharging the affairs of the nation
Victoria woodruff was nominated for
the presidency. She didn't win, or come
anywhere near it. No one thought she
would. But the novelty of seeing a
woman's name on a ticket furnished a
sensation, and made her fame national
Defeat at the polls did not lessen the
energy of this resourceful woman
Beaten at the polls, she determined to
succeed in business, and she and her
sister, then known as "Tenny Chafin,
now Lady Cook of London, England
went to New York, and there started
the brokerage firm of woodruff &
Clafin.
This, too, was novel enterprise for
women.
In fact, at that time nothing like II
4 tn
from being mere experimenters, the two
sisters showed themselves uncommonly
shrewd business women, and soon built
up a big trade.
Then they branched out into the pub
fishing business with the Woodruff &
| Claflin Journal
This was at the time of the celebrated
Beecher-Tilden trial. Not every news
, paper dealt freely in the details of this
scandalous case, but the woodruff &
Claflin Journal printed 1t In great de-
tall as a result of which enterprise
there came a host of libel suits.
AS a result of the many entangle-
ments that ensued the sisters decided
to give up their publishing interests,
and after looking the field over decided
to become lecturers. The varied talents
of the manysided pair enabled them to
make good on the rostrum, the same as
1t had in the arena of politics, in the
counting room and In the editors sane
tum.
They also became contributors to the
most important publications of Eng
land
A host of suitors sought to win the
sisters. Mrs. woodruff was the first to
capitulate She married in 1879 John
Rudolph Martin, an English banker
member of one of the oldest firms OF
Lombard street.
Mr.. Martin backed the campaigns OF
his wife with great heartiness, and In
the battle for womans rights, which
has made greater strides in England
than anywhere else, she has had lead
ing part.
At the death of Mr.. Martin his mil
lions went to his wife, as we'll as the
beautiful estate at Norton Park, IN
Worcestershire.
Mrs. Martin also became a member
of the banking firm, which makes her
with the exception of the Baroness
Burdett- Coutts, the most prominent
woman financier in England, for she
now has a bigger interest in banking
than anybody else of her sex save the
one.
With this big inheritance Mrs. Mar
tin is striving to transform the village
of Brendon's Norton into a center of
culture, equipped with all the conve-
niences of modern civilization.
The training which Mrs. Woodruff
and her sister had in Wall street has
equipped her for her present place of
power in the London financial world
She is often seen in the vicinity OF