The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-10-14
FOR EQUAL SUFFRAGE
Mrs. n. K. Evans, of Corydon, Made
! Splendid Address. An Organ.
lzatlon was Formed Here.

! Splendid Address. An Organ
izatlon was Formed Here.
It was quite an enthusiastic and
representative audience, with num-
bers about equally divided between
men and women, representing differ
ent political parties, societies and
professions, which gathered at the
Methcd dist church Friday evening for
Icons first equal suffrage meeting
of the present Iowa campaign, and to
listen to the special address OF the
evening by Mrs. Fl. X. Evans, OF
CorydyOn.
The meeting was called to order
by Miss Mabel Horner, who had been
appointed county chairman of the
equal suffrage movement by the state
organization. After the singing OF
America and the offering of prayer,
Miss Horner briefly stated the object
of the meeting, suggesting that the
equal suffrage movement marks one
of the steps in the evolution of pollt-
ical liberty. The speaker, Mrs. H.
X, Evans, was then introduced and
she at once won the admiration OF
her audience by the grace and ease
with which she spoke and the unof-
Tending yet convincing way in which
she presented her argument. She
called attention to the social, intel
lectual and political development of
the human race and that suffrage
and democracy of men is compare
lively of few years and is exercised
by the more progressive countries.
She also observed that women, like
men, had forced their way to the
front in the face of an opposed pub
lie opinion. In the early history of
the race women received but little
recognition at the hand of man. She
said that it was amusing to read how
even the early christian church coun
ellis argued as to whether or not
woman had soul. Finally one of
these councils voted by a bare major
ity of one that she had, and thus
they endowed her with a soul. Once
men argued that women had no place
in the church and that she could not
teach school, but now men have
largely left these fields to her. 1t
is noteworthy fact, she said, that
in the less civilized and non-chris-
tion nations and countries that wom-
an is degraded and denied many
privileges and rights. She claimed
that political democracy against
woman is unnatural and not fair to
her, especially in republic govern
ed by high ideals, and she declared
that woman suffrage is but natural
and inevitable result in the marchso
social progress. Mrs. Evans briefly
reviewed the rapid progress of the
equal suffrage, movement In the Unit
ed States, stating that west of the
Dakotas and north and south, except
ing New Mexico, and to the coast
the entire country is equal suffrage
territory. The speaker closed her
splendid address by urging upon the
friends of equal suffrage the Great
ing of sentiment and vigorous cam
paigning to get out the vote at the
primary election next June when the
amendment for equal suffrage for
the state of Iowa is to be voted upon.
The address of Mrs. Evans was
followed by several volunteer and
spirited talks by both men and wom-
en-, which left no doubt as to strong
sentiment in Leon favoring the
cause. Resolutions were read by
Mrs. J.. O. Woodmansec endorsing
the movement and the recommenda-
tion for a local organization, were
unanimously adopted. Papers for
enrolment were then passed through
one enrolled.
ed
President-Mrs. c. NJ. Ketcham.
1st Vice President-Mrs. Stephen
Varga.
End Vice President-Morris Card
ner
Recording Secretary-Mrs. Helen
Hurst.
Corresponding secretary-Mrs. o.
w. Foxworthy.
Treasurer Henrietta Vogt.
Executive Committee-Dr B. L.
Eiker. Mrs. Marion F.. Stookey, Mrs.
Alice Farquhar, Miss Himena Hoff
man, J. w. Hurst.
Much interest was shown in the
meeting and the audience readily re-
sponded to the spirit of the occasion.
Woman suffrage songs printed on
slips Of paper were distributed and
sung. The High School quartet fur
nished special music In the after
noon Mrs. Evans had addressed the
Federated Clubs of Leon at the as
sembly room of the library. These
ladies came wearing their suffrage
badge in the evening. The success
of the meeting and the organization
was largely due to the county chair
man, Miss Mabel Horner and her ef-,
ficient corps of helpers, represent
ing different societies, clubs and
churches of the city. i
The diplomatic modesty with
which the cause was presented by
Mrs. Evans and the proficiency with
which the organization was affected
made it very evident that all political
genius is not with men only. Other
meetings and further organization
and campaign work here and in 9TH
er parts of DECATUR county will be