Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-21
SUFFRAGETTES
ASKGOVERNORS
TOCONVENT|0N
Mrs. Mary L. McLendon, of At
Ianta, Among Those Who Sign
Letters to Executives.

Southern women look to Southern
men to give them the ballot" said
Mrs. Mary L. McLendon, president of
the Georgia Equal Suffrage Associa-
| ton, yesterday
We would rather be granted suf-
! frage at the hands of our own State
Legislatures than by means Of an
amendment 10 the Constitution Of the
| United States. You see, being South
erners, we have our regard for the
doctrine of States rights.
But, Of course, we want the ballot,
and failing its grant by the State, we
/ should look to the constitutional
amendment the prospect of the pass
age Of which through Congress is
bright"
| 1t is this sentiment that is the es-
sence Of letter which has been sign
ed by leading suffragists in the diff
ferent Southern States, and sent to
each Southern Governor. Mrs Nc
Lendon displayed the letter, of which
she is one of the signers
Ask Governors to Nesting.
We are asking the Governors Of
the Southern States to meet with us
in New Orleans, where a convention
Of the Suffrage Workers Of the South
will be held November 10 and IL"
The letter is:
My Dear Governor: The under
| signed women of the Southern States
| on the part of the suffragists of their
respective States, earnestly request the
| Governors Of the Southern States or
| their representatives, to meet them in
conference in New Orleans, November
| 1911, to discuss and adopt a uniform
plan of action for the adoption of
woman suffrage in the South.
I'VE are united in the belief that
suffrage is State right and that the
| power to define a States electorate
should remain in the executive right of
the State. However, we recognize
! that woman suffrage is no longer a
theory to be debated but condition
| to be met. The inevitable votes for
women is a world movement, and I'M
less the South squarely faces the is
sue and takes steps to preserve the
| State right the force of public opin-
ion will make it mandatory through
a National Constitutional Amend
ment.
I'm fact, the National Council Of
Voters, consisting Of enfranchised
women. has for it's object the influ-
encing of national legislation to Sc
cure the ballot for the women who
| have not yet received, ii. While as
| Southerners we wish to see the power
of the State retained, yet as women
we are equally determined to secure
as of paramount importance the right
which is the birthright of an Ameri-
can citizen.
Responsibility on Men.
we, therefore, appeal to youIgentle-
men vested with the power to so large
~ shape conditions, to confer with us
and influence public opinion to adopt
woman suffrage through State action.
Failing to accomplish this, the onus
of responsibility will rest upon the
men of the South, If Southern women
are forced to support a national
amendment. weighted with the same
objections as the Fifteenth Amend
ment.
Hoping for an early and favorable
MRS. SOLON H. JACOBS, Birming-
ham. Ala president of the Alabama
Equal Suffrage Association:
MRS. ALICE ELLINGTON, Little
Rock. Ark, president Of the Little
Rock Political Equality League.
MRS. CHESTER JENNINGS, Little
Rock. Ark, president of the Little
Rock Political Equality League.
MRS. HELEN RAND TlNDELL,
Washington. d. c.
MRS. MARY L. McLENDON, Allan
ia. Ga, president of the Georgia
Equal Suffrage Association.
MRS. DESHA BRECKENRIDGE,
Lexington. Ky, president of the
Kentucky Equal Rights Association.
MISS LAURA CLAY, Lexington.
XIV. secretary of the Kentucky
Equal Rights Association.
MRS SARAH CLAY BENNETT,
MRS. MARY B. CLAY, Richmond,
MISS KATE GORDON, New Or
leans president of the Louisiana
State Suffrage Association.
MISS FLORENCE LEEBER, New
orleans, president of the Era Club
of New Orleans.
MRS. EMMA MADDOX FUNCk,
Baltimore. president of the Mary
land Woman Suffrage Association.
MRS. DONALD r. BOOKER, Bal
timore president Of the Just Gov
ernufent League.
MRS. ANNIE KINkEAD DENT,
Yazoo City, Miss, president of the
Mississippi Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation.
| MRS. ROBERT SOMERNlLLE,
Greenville. Miss.
MRS EUGENE REILLEY. Char
lotte n. c.
MRS. ADELE c. STEPHENS. Ok
lahoma City, president of the Okla
homa Woman Suffrage Association.
MRS MARY WINTHROP GIBBON,
| Charleston. s. c.
MISS SARAH BARNWELI. Ell
LOTT, Sewanee, president of the
Tennessee Equal Suffrage Associa-
ton.
MISS NJ ELEANOR BRACKEN-
RIDGE. San Antonio. president of
the Texas Equal Suffrage Society
MRS. r. B. VALENTINE, Richmond,
Va, president of the Equal Suf-
frage League of Virginia
NlInDnI roc nAMHEp CIHNC