The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-04-22
SUFFRAGETTES GET
10000 SIGNERS
Oklahoma Women Report Progress
Made Toward Securing Franchise
Mold Minds Of Young.

BY Associated Press.
Washington. April 16.-The report
of the Oklahoma Woman Suffrage as
sociation presented to the National
convention by President Kate II. Big
gers shows that the women of the new
state are leading a determined fight.
A petition bearing nearly 10000 sign
ers to strike the word male" from
the state constitution has been pre-
pared and asks that the question be
submitted to the voters at the next
special or regular election in oklaho-
ma in 1910
Mrs. Biggers reported that one of
the surprises in store came when they
presented the petition to the secre-
tary of state The women, being po-
litical nonentities, could not take the
receipt. The secretary Of the Okla
homa Federation of Labor consented
to stand as guardian for the sex min
ors and the receipt was made out in
his name.
The anomoly Of these women. many
OF them middle aged and gray haired,
requiring a young man to act as guar
dian was a surprise, as well as an OBJ
ject lesson in the injustice perpetrat
ed on women" declared Mrs. Biggers.
80 quietly had the names to the
petition been secured that 1t caused
consternation among the politicians
when the women presented the com
pleted petition with 3S,5S6 signers. 10
the secretary of state. The aspirants
for political berths, whose records
might not stand the test OF women
voters. Immediately conferred with a
view to preventing the petition from
being presented to the people This
Ianxiety to attack the petition was one
of the strong proofs of the general
prophecy that the vote on our amend
ment would surely carry. If those who
manipulate our politics had not been
Iconirmed In this opinion they would
have permitted the question to be vot-
ed upon. The dared not take this
risk. Immediately the plan of sus-
pending action on the petition was
suggested on the absurd charge that
5000 OF the signatures were fraudu-
lent. a hearing was granted by the
secretary of state, January 25. The
Suffrage association being duly de-
Tended by three of Oklahomas emin-
ent lawyers, Judges J. L. Brown, J. B.
Robertson and p Maggie. these men
being prominent in the republican,
democratic and socialist parties. The
secretary of state sustained the petit
tion, whereon the remonstrant appeal
ed to the supreme court He was al
lowed forty days In which to file his
brief. At the expiration Of the time
he was unable to sustain his charges,
and prayed for a further extension,
which the court granted. lie was Civ
en- until April 1 to produce proofs Of
his allegations. Meanwhile, we are
losing no time in working In our cam
paign."
Molding the young mind to the idea
OF suffrage by hanging on the walls
OF school rooms pictures of famous wo-
men. and by the introduction Of text
books which tell Of the attainments
of women as well as men, is part of
the work of the committee on educa-
tion. IT'S report was presented to the
convention today by Paulin Steinem.
It's chairman.
Six states, now maintain education
al committees che declared, which
have the objective Of encouraging wo-
men TO serve on boards Of education;
to secure the adoption Of text books
showing woman's influence on the af-
fairs OF nation especially in history
land ciyics; and to organize Mothers
Clubs, Parents Organizations and Pat
ron's Leagues in connection with all
school buildings Teachers are also
interested in the movement
The idea OF the committee on edu-
cation is not only TO secure the rights
Of suffrage for the women Of the pres
ent day but TO secure Il by teaching