The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-12
BRINGS MESSAGE OF HOPE
TO WOMAN sUFFRAC|sTs
Miss Pankhurst, Militant suffragette
of England, Arouses Enthusiasm
Among American Sisters.
MAKES STIRRING
APPEAL
Tells Sontherners That They should
Take Concentrated aud Immediate
Action to Gain the Ballot-nIiss
Johnston One OF Speakers.

Action to Gain the Baliot-nIiss
Johnston One OF Speakers.
CHATTANOOGA. TENN, November
11:-Miss christabel Pankhurst. noted
militant suYragettc OF England.
aroused two large audiences to en-
thusiastic demonstrations BY addresses
here tonight at tho closing session of
the Southern States Woman Suffrage
conference. Miss Pankhurst delivered
q message OF hope for the success of
the woman suffrage cause in this coun
Try from the suffragcttes OF England,
and she made q stirring appeal TO the
southern women for, concentrated and
immediate action to gain the ballet.
The crowd that gathered at the local
theatre to hear Miss Pankhurst ex-
ceeocd the capacity OF the playhouse
and an overflow meeting was held in
nearby hall, where the English mill :
tant also spoke.
Prior to the evening meetings. the
business of the conference was con:
Guided with the reelection Of Miss
Kate NJ. Gordon, OF New Orleans. as
president. and the selection OF other
officers. An invitation to hold the next
annual conference In Memphis, Tenn,
was extended by delegates from that
city.
city was left TO the executive board.
WOMEN MUST FIGHT
THEIR OWN BATTLES
In her address tonight, Miss Pank-
hurst said:
The growing industrialism OF the
south inevitably leads to more and
more women seeking an. independent
living. Under this condition It Is nee
! essary. in ordcr to maintain q good
& n RI y - NJ
to fight their battles. II women are
underpaid. II Is certain TO have an CT
rect In lowering mems wages. sIen
workers. for their own advancement,
should help women get the vote. TO
enable them to fight for better condi-
lions and proper laws"
The speaker asserted that women are
better qualified than men to decide the
housing problems that confront big in
dustrial centres. and argued they should
be given the ballot to effect humani-
tartan reforms.
"But aside from domestic affairs"
she asserted, women are taking an
| Increasing interest in international
affairs. The time has passed when men
have n monopoly In understanding in
dustrial questions. The war Is an in
stance in point. woman's experience
| In the conflict shows II neither safe
nor just to deprive them OF the vote
because they have to bear the hard
ships OF war which they had no part
| I'm bringing and which they had
no power TO avert.
BENDING THEIR EFFORTS
TO ASSIST COUNTRY
while you women are lighting for
suffrage here, the sufragettes of Eng
| land arc bending their efforts 10 aid
their country in the terrible war. We
Buffragettes are patriotic. but we also
believe our country is right"
Women suffrage now is an estab-
lished principle 30 far as this couf,-
try is concerned" declared Miss Pank-
hurst In closing. with the western
half OF the country already under the
suffrage banner 1t is impossible to
any force to prevent the cause spread
ing throughout the entire country. You
have two methods for gaining the
State and the Federal Constitution. 7
! understand the South prefers the
States rights plan on lines suited to
local needs.
| But wish to appeal to you South
ern women 20 set the vote quickly
the ballot to women through State
! action. they will find that suffrage Will
/ be granted them through n Federal
amendment. and the Southern States
viii be Obliged to accept.c
| Miss Mary Johnston. OF Richmond.
.
suffrage movement In the South, and
urged the need OF vigorous action by
, the women of the country to follow
up the victories gained in the recent
election.
crn conference departed late tonight
| for Nashville. to attend the annual
convention of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association, which
opens there tomorrow.
OF PRINCIPLES
! LEFT TO DIE IN COMMITTEES
| At the final business session late
| to-day the conference allowed to die
| in committee the proposed declaration
OF principles. Two paragraphs OF tlis
| declaratIon-one Affirming that suffrage
! is a States rights question, and the
other calling upon the Democratic
party 10 include woman suffrage
plank In it's next national platfrom--
aroused spirited opposition.
| Officers elected by the conference, in
addition to Miss Gordon, include:
! Nice-president At large, Miss Laura
! Clay. Lexington, ny.
Secretaries, Mrs. John T.. Parker,
New Orleans. and Mrs. Nellie y. Som
! crvillc. Greenvilic. Miss.
| Treasurer, Mrs. II. p. Bartlett. Louis
lana.
Auditors, Mgs. C.. Elliott. Maryland.
and Mrs, NJ. Montague. Tennessee.
! Among State vice presidents were:
! North Carolina, Mrs. Archibald Hen
derson: South Carolina, Mrs. NJ. T.
Coleman, Abbeville: Virginia, Mrs. John
II. Lewis. Honorary vice-pre sidcnts.
Mrs. O. II. y. Belmont, New York: Mics
Mary Johnston, Virginia; Mrs. Helen
Gardner, Washington, D., G.
-e----
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