South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-18
START CAMPAIGN
FOR STATE WIDE
SUFFRAGE NEXT
Federated WOmen'S Clubs Will
Bring all Their Influence to
Bear if Movement is EndorS-
ed Next Week.

on which side the delegates from
the South Bend clubs 20 the conven-
ton OF the State Federation OF Wom-
ems clubs in Indianapolis. viii DE
counted IA the suffrage issue that Is
impending, viii be decided by the
Progress CLUB Saturday afternoon
when the sealed ballots on the Suffrage
question are counted.
A list OF questions from the state
headq quarters OF the federation were
sent out few weeks ago 10 the clubs
ABOUT the state 10 determine their al
uJude on various matters. Among
them the club members were asked 10
| decide whether or not they wanted
TO throw the influence OF their organl-
zatlon behind the suffrage movement
in Indiana
The questions were taken up by the
Impromptu and Progress clubs. the
| only two federated clubs in the city.
The Impromptu club has already de-
clded that as a club II desires 20 have
nothing 10 do with the suffrage move
ment. The Progress club viii decide
Saturday. The vote Will be by sealed
ballots which Will be counted at the
general club meeting Saturday after
noon.
Suffrage is expected TO be the alb
sOrbing Issue at the convention All
the other questions submitted TO the
clubs were unimportant IN comparison
and viii arouse no controversy. That
a controversy will arise over the SUI
frage question there is no doubt and
the supporters OF the movement are
determined TO force the issue.
A resolution Will be offered endors-
ing the movement 10 extend the fran
chise TO women in Indiana and
pledging the federation 10 its support.
Will Fight IL Out.
Such "A resolution was expected 10
be presented at the last convention
of the federation held in Fort Wayne.
but the conservatives IN the fedora
ton adroitly avoided IL. Both fac
lions are satisfied that the question
cannot be postponed any longer and
they are preparing TO fight il out IN
the convention.
1t is believed that the supporters
OF the movement are in the majority.
Almost without exception the ablest
club women IN the state are IN FAVOR
of pledging the federation 10 suffrage.
Among the leaders OF the suffrage
movement are Mrs. Meredith NichOl-
! son, Mrs. Felix 7. McWhirter, Mrs.
/ Grace Julian Clarke and Miss Harriet
/ Noble Of Indianapolis, Mrs Stella
/ Simpson, a member or the school
/ board at Terre Haute. and Mrs. Albion
| Fellows Bacon, Of Evansville.
Many prominent W. G. T. l.. wOm-
en- are members of the federation and
| many local unions OF the w. c 7. T.
7 i
which is strong through central and
southern Indiana, is also federated.
The influence of the two organizations
IS expected TO be sufficient TO swing
| the federation into the suffrage move
ment.
The w. c. T. [. has always been
strongly in favor OF the suffrage for
women. The Franchise league was
organized TO foster the mOvemSszt.
! The Federation OF WOmen's clubs rs
the only other large organization OF
women in the state and the suffrage
supporters hope TO enlist il along with
/ the other two in the suffrage move
ment.
Suffrage to Front.
! Representative OF the Franchise
/ league and the members Of the SUI
frage committee of the state W. G. Il.
/ L. met together last winter TO de-
/ eide upon the preliminary steps OF
+ joint campaign. The ". &. I. l. ar
ranged for a series of suffrage meet
! ings in its local union and began the
taking of a suffrage census. Suffrage
was the dominant note OF its state
convention held last week in south
Bend The Franchise league has
pushed forward as rapidly as possible
| the organization Of branch leagues
! throughout the state.
With the enlistment of the feder-
ated clubs a definite program is eX-
I EGELeU 10 Ia ne clldDt anu SUM a. 90
| an immediate issue viii be presented
ID the people OF Indiana. There VIII
be a strong power behind it and SUI
/ fragists are hopeful that the next
! legislature can be induced 10 take
favorable action.
A constitutional amendment VIII De
/ required 10 give the women OF lndlana
the complete franchise. At conFen-
! ton of the Franchise league two years
I ago. the members decided 10 work TOT
! a new constitution. Many men ana
women throug hOut the state viii look
/ forward 10 a new constitution which
will place Indiana ia the rank OF pro-
! gressive states.
But when the suffragists come 10
mapping out their campaign after the
| close of the coming convention they
! viii probably decide 20 do the eNpe-
dent thing which may be % work Tor
an enabling law such as was recently
| enacted in Illinois giving the women
limited but al the same time very i'm
Dortant franchise privileges. The rest
/ will be only matter Of few years
/ they think.