The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-18
FEARS NO BREAK
N SUFFRAGE FOLD
Secession of South From Ma
tional Body Not Likely.
Says Miss Johnston.
VIRGINIA MAKING PROGRESS
Author of Long Roll" Encour-
aged With Growth Of Move
ment in Old Dominion.

.As far as I know there win be ne
rupture between the delegations from
the South. West and East at the Ma
tional Suffrage Convention this week.
said Miss Mary Johnston last night to
q reporter for The Times-Dispatch,
who asked for a statement on the per-
sistent rumor that the National Wo-
man Suffrage Association stands To-
day q house divided against itself
.The convention which meets at
Philadelphia Thursday will be the
greatest suffrage gathering ever held
in this country" said the author OF
The Long ROLF and Cease Firing
Delegates will be present from every
State in the Union. and Virginia Will
send about twenty. We expect to make
some changes in the constitution OF
the national organization. but have
no fear OF any serious difference or
break"
Talk Of Secessa0n.
Most Of the preconvention talk CEN
tres about a possible secession by q
group Of Western. Southern and Mid
die Western States. These. 1t is claim
ed, chafe under the restrictions OF q
constitution framed almost q half
century ago. and are said to be in
favor OF a new national league OF their
own. directed in accordance with the
aggressive methods Of the States which
have recently won the franchise Other
clements are dissatisfied with certain
exclusive features Of the Eastern domi-
nation. and favor a reconstruction on
more democratic lines.
More certain than anything else is
the redrafting Of the old constitution
in a number OF important points. Among
other things. the convention will decide
whether or not the national convention
is to work in the future upon district
organization basis. A growing faction
demands the political districting Of
the country, while the old-line workers
uniformaly oppose the innovation.
Progress In Virginia.
With four new States in tho SUI
frage gold, the movement for the en-
reimbursement Of women has. since the
election, taken on a new seriousness.
and men and women who were former
ly inclined to gibe now listen respect
fully In the order Of their conversion
the suffrage roster now reads: Wyom-
ing, Colorado. Idaho. Utah, Washing
ton, California, Arizona, Oregon. KAN
sas and Michigan The States control
seventy electoral votes.
I'VE are strongly encouraged with
the progress of our cause In Virginia,
said Miss Johnston. With a member
ship Of nineteen three years ago. the
Equal Suffrage League Of Virginia has
to-day twenty-six branch organiza-
tions with an active membership OF
more than 1000. We have the indorse-
.nent Of various labor organizations.
as we'll as of learned bodies and so.
cieties Our latest branch, the Abe
marie League. was organized last week
in Charlottesville"
Old Dominion Delegates.
The Virginia delegation to the con-
vention, which will be on from Noven-
Der 81 to November Is, will leave at
noon Wednesday. There Will be score
Of delegates with a number Of alter
mates. The party will include Miss
Mary Johnston. Miss Eloise Johnston.
Mrs B. B. Valentine, Mrs s. ". Meek.
Mrs. Kate Langley Bosher ana MIS-.
Charles V Meredith. of Richmond; Mrs.
Ethel Nicely. Mrs. Walter J. Adams and
Mrs Louise Collier Wilcox. OF Nor
folk: Mrs Stephen Putney. Of Wythe-
Vile: Miss Rebecca Wexford. Char
Iot.esville, and Mrs. Janette Fitzhugh,
Fredericksburg.
The opening night Of the convention
will be given up to speeches by repre-
sen,atives from all the campaign
States. and the annual address by the
president. Dr. Anna Howard shaw The
Mems League for Woman Suffrage Will
be in charge Of the program Friday
evening