Middletown transcript., 1915-02-13
SUFFRAGE GAINING
Sentiment for Suffrage Strong
Down the State
MANY SIGNED THE PETITION

MANY SIGNED THE PETITION
Those who say there is no suffrage
sentiment down the state, don't know
what they are talking about. " declared
Miss Mabel Vernon to a representative
OF Wilmington Morning News when she
returned Saturday from a brief trim
through Sussex county in the interest
OF the campaign which is being waged
by the Delaware campaign committee
trying to secure a constitutional amend
ment providing for the enfranchisement
of the women in this state.
Continuing to speak of the matte,
Miss Vernon said! why found more
suffrage sentiment lying dormant
among the men and women of Sussex
county than could have believed was
possible. 1t required no effort at all to
secure signers to the suffrage petitions.
The men and women were eager to sign
and we received many signatures of
those who wish to have the women of
Delaware enfranchsed.
In continuing to speak of the trip
which Miss Vernon and Mrs. Edna Lati-
mer made through Sussex county, the
former said: During the two and a
half days we were away, we spoke to
$500 persons and held 16 meetings. At
every one of those places where the
audience was large enough, the resolu-
ton was passed calling on the legisa-
tors from those districts to vote for the
suffrage amendment"
Due to the conditions of the roads.
the suffrage fiier" had to be aban-
doned and the trip most of the way was
made in a carriage drawn by two horses.
Enthusiastic meetings were held at
Harbeson and Ocean View. At the
latter place there were about 150 per-
sons in attendance and the resolution
was passed unanimously, At the meet
ing held in the armory at Milford,
Saturday night, 500 persons We're in
attendance. Representative Joseph G.
Davis was in the audience and when
the vote for the suffrage resolution was
taken, the representative requested
that standing vote be taken. More
than two-thirds of the audience voted
in favor of the resolution, and when
all those opposed were asked to stand
not person arose. On Saturday at
noon meeting was held at Lewes in
front of the bank, Representative
Salisbury and Senator Joseph were in
the audience. Miss Leah Burton moved
that the resolution be passed favoring
the granting of franchise to the women
of Delaware and the motion was
seconded by Mrs. Thompson, wife of
Mayor Thompson of Lewes. The reso-
luton was passed unanimously. Rep
resentative Salisbury remarked: 81
didnot know there were so many suf-
fragists in Lewes.
The contributions on the trip didn't
quite pay for expenses since the expen-
ses were quite heavy, partly caused by
the conditions of the roads and the ne
cessary change of plans. An automo-
bile was used from Georgetown to
Milton. Mrs. Latimer and Miss Yer
non were entertained Saturday over
night by Mr.. and Mrs. Marshall Town
send, of Milford. At Lewes they
were the guests of Mrs. William
Marshall, and at Selbyville they were
entertained by Mr.. and Mrs. S. C.
Long.
On Tuesday from l to 2 O'Clock the
suffragist- will be given hearing be-
fore the revised statutes committee of
the Senate. Indications are that there
will be large delegation. 1t is ex~
sion will be Dr. Cora Smith King, of
Washington state. Dr. King is the
treasurer of tine national council of
women voters. Mrs. Florence Bayard
Hiles will preside at the meeting.
When asked if the suffragists would
present list of signers to petition as
the antis did, a representative OF the
organization said: mo, we don't ex-
pect to. A list of our signers would be
voluminous. We have more than 5000
signers and could secure a great many
more. We don't care to select few
names of representative citizens since
we believe the signature of a good in
| dustriOus farmer to be of as much value
to our cause and to our state as the
names of the representative citizens
whose names have been publis he'd. The
suffragists, however, have the sigma
lures of great many prominent citi-
zens of Wilmington. y
The ''flier" leaves again on Wednes-
day for tour of Sussex county through
section not yet visited. The start
will be made from Seafurd on Wednes
day, February 10; at noon. From there
the ''flier" will proceed to Delmar and
night meeting will be held at Laurel.
A moon meeting has been planned for
Bridgeville on Thursday, then on to
Greenwood and Pennington at night
On Friday to FELTON,, Frederick, Rising
Sun Magnolia. Woodside and Wyoming
All details of the trip have not been de-
finitely fixed.