The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-17
REQUESTED NOT TO SPEAK ON
OWNERSHIP OF MONTICELLO
AFTER BEING INVITED.
IS NOT QUITTING IN
INTERESTING SESSION OF THE
LEAGUE OF SOUTHERN WOMEN
WRITER'S HELD AT THE
woMAN's CLUB.

Mrs Martin Littleton, OF New York.
whose campaign to have the United
States government acquire possession
of Monticello, the home of Thomas
jefferson. now owned by Congress
man Jefferson NJ. Levy, of New York,
has won her a national reputation de-
clared in an address before the
League of Southern Women Writers
Of the Woman's club yesterday morn
ing. that her cause Is righteous one.
she reviewed the fight she has Waged
in congress TO have Monticello wrest-
ed from Mr.. Levy's ownership. build
ing her arguments on the CONVICTION
that the country owes it to the mem
ory Of SO great a man as Jefferson
20 preserve his home as a memorial
to his contributions to Democracy
and to make of Il q, second Mt. Yer
non. ~
Unusual interest WAS taken in Mrs
Tittletons address, as she had neeh
requested Tuesday afternoon after
her arrival in the city not TO orlhs
mn the question of her fight for Mon
ticello in her speech before the VIII
ers Mrs Rutledge Smith, president
~ Tho League of writers, invited Mrs
rJttleton some weeks ago to come to
richmond and address the league on
Monticello in response to letters from
Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia "o-
men. who are interested in the pres
ervstion of historic landmarks IN
those States. Finding, however that
there is a sentiment here against Mts
Tittletons movement, Mrs SHn'tii @SN
ed her to change the subject ana
sneax on Thomas jefferson Mrs
Tatleton has given so much time and
energy to her project that Thomas
Jefferson and Monticello are lnsep-
arably connected in her thoughts, ana
n seemed impossible yesterday for her
10 separate the former from the ia5-
ter.
Not Yankee Buttfng In"
.syou probably thought ] was SOM
horrible Yankee woman butting IN
on affairs down here with when l
had nothing 10 do said Mrs. Little
ton, who IS q native Of Texas ana was
educated at the Mary Baldwin semi
rsrv, in Sfaunton. Va at the begin
ming of her address. she spoke Of her
General interest in the preservation
~ historic homes I'm the South, work
that Ia second only To religion IN her
estimation. When she accompanied
her husband TO Washington after his
election TO congress from the oyster
Raw. long Island, district or New
no memorial to Jefferson. OF whose
achievements she gave splendid
synopsis.
The time has come, IN Mrs. Little
toms opinion. when the government
jefferson loved so dearly should atone
for it's long neglect Of his memory
and. better than any monument the
government could erect. would he the
preservation Of his home as fitting
hna aaH DDDpai
10 congress 10 obtain possession OF
Monticello on the contention that the
United States was defrauded through
a bare legal technicaiity in the VIII
Of the late Jriah Levy, who LETT the
historic homestead 10 the people OF
the United States. or. II they refused
70 accept il, 10 the State or VIZ
-rinia-
Al this point. Mrs. Littleton. who
was fully aware Of the opposition u
her address. paused and said. II can
stop here. or I can say a little more
NAV I tell~you the story? 1 promise
7 shall nS Offend anyone" In an
swer to a question asked by one OF
those present, she resumed her sun
fect. drawing 81 contrast between the
honors that have been paid the mem
ory of washington by the nation and
the little. or rather nothing. that has
bHan doBS To pfSNei E1 NV 1865 =
Of Jefferson and his achievements
League Session is Opened.
Tho League of Southern Women
Writer'S assembled at the Woman
club yesterday morning for IT'S second
annual meeting with NUMBER OF
well-known authors present among
whom were Miss Maria Thompson ia
x,ies Mrs Kate Langley Bosher, Mrs
I,ucian Cooke and Miss Mildred Ruth,
erford. Mrs Bosher, who was asked
to be the local chairman for the
meeting, presented Mrs. J. arthur
LEROY, president of the Woman
club, who graciously welcomed me
league on behalf of the club and the
city. The writer's of Virginia We're
represented by Mrs. Lucian II, Cooke
NJ Roanoke. who made Cordiat al
dress of welcome in their behalf. MRS
Cooke said that she was grained
when the invitation came to heF R'
attend the meeting OF the league Una
she was considered among the class
alipthIa 10 be present. In welcomint
s,tch a body Mrs Cooke felt that she
was but making room for them at ih'
family fireside, for probably there wa
not one present who feels stranger II
the Old Dominion, because Virgins
ancestors are their common lot. Al
amusing story in negro dialect. f1elt
in which she IS inimitable. was tolc
in illustration of the fact that mos
Americans are Nirginians, by Mrs
Cooke. who in conclusion, urged tn
writer's of the South to maintain pur'
and high ideals lest the turkey tro
decadence" be recognized in our liter
ature.
Mrs. Smith Presides. 50
Mrs. Rutledge Smith, president o
the league. responded to the addresse
Of welcome, and presided during tn
rest of the meeting. She emphasize
the wide need for educational wori
in the South. particularly In tn
mountain sections, and urged mem
hers of the organization to adopt edu
cation and enlightment as their watch
word that, with the pen, they Nigh
conquer the enemy. illiteracy.
Greetings from "a number of writ
ers who were unavoidahiy detained
from the convention, were read b
Mrs. Smith Among those sendin
letters of regret were Mrs, Ida Clyd
Clarke. secretary of the league, Mis-
Margaret Wilson. who had been ask
ed to speak on the school as a socia
center. but who declined on the pie
that she is not public speaker Mis-
Isma Dooley. of the Atlanta Consti
tuition, Mrs. La Sale Corbell Pickett
and Mrs A. h. Mckinney.
Several of the league members re
manned in Washington yesterday 70