The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-08
Delegates Convened This Afternoon
At Country Club Prominent
Workers Attending
VOTES FOR women CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
Informal Reception Given After the Afternoons Session
Delegates Will Banquet Tonight At Manley Hotel
100 Guests To Be Present

The campaign to secure equal rights
FOR women in the fall of 1916, when
the amendment to the state constitu-
ton, adopted by the recent session of
Z the legislature will be acted upon at
! the polls, was formally launched in
this city today, when a conference OF
state officials, ETC., was opened at the
Country Club.
Officials and others interested in
the campaign, and the ultimate sue
cess of the movement, began to ar
rive here last night, and today
brought a large number to the city,
where they will remain until tomor-
row evening or Saturday morning.
Mrs. Ebert PRESIDED.
Mrs. j. Gale Ebert. of Parkersburg,
state president of the West Virginia
Women's Suffrage League, arrived
here last night, and is the guest of
Miss Margaret Mckinney at her
home on First street. When inter
ed great enthusiasm and optimism as
to the outcome of the vote on the
amendment and believes that "yic-
tory In 1916" is assured.
When questioned as to what kind
z OF e. campaign would be waged by
the women, Mrs. Ebert stated that it
was her wish and her plans that a
quiet; dignihed, conservative cam
Daign be waged throughout the coun-
ties of the state and that nothing of
sensational nature would creep in
to the campaign methods as outlined
Sby the state executive committee.
Mrs. Ebert stated that the greatest
opposition the women would meet
Throughout the state were the mat
ters of Indifference, prejudice and ig-
Snorance, and that speakers among
prominent men and women of the
state and other states would be en-
listed to help break away these bar
ris5s: S.i.s.s ,,,,a,.. /, ., !. ,,.,. ., NOW,
en- of the state as individuals, as
church workers. as club women, ETC.,
to concentrate on the matter of suf-
mage during the months that inter
vene between now and the fall of
1916, and to put forth their best ef-
forts to aenlisting others in the cause.
Mrs. Ebert is a young woman of a
bright and pleasing personality and
her enthusiasms for the work and as
president of the state league BODIES
this afternoon, arrived here last
for the ratification of the suffrage
amendment to the state constitution.
Mrs. Mary e. Craigfe, of Buffalo,
chairman church work committee of
the North American Women's Suf-
frage League, who will address the
conference on THE Ideal Suffragist"
on Friday night, arrived here last
evening and is quartered at the Man
ley hotel. Mrs. .Craigte has spent sew
eral weeks in the state in the inter
est of suffrage and is brilliant and
conservative speaker.
Works Through Churches.
Mrs. Craigie and her husband have
recently returned from trip to the
coast, where Mrs. CraIgrc lectured to
club women. Mrs. Craigie is bril-
liant women and a great enthusiast
for women's suffrage. She is thor
dttions in the states and has spent
some time in the states where the
women have equal rights with men.
Mrs. Craigie stated in talking to q
West Virginian reporter that her
work is largely through the churches,
Z without which moral support the
cause could hardly be. successful.
Mrs. Craigie appeals to the Pro-
testant and Catholic churches for the
the churches should cooperate on the
matter OF equal suffrage. as they CO.
i operate on such questions as prohibit
ton, child labor, etc. Mrs. Craigie
believes the churches would become
stronger as institutions should wom-
en- be given the right or suffrage.
Mrs. Craigie. who. has spent several
weeks throughout the state in this
work, will go from here to Wheeling
and will return in the state toward
the close of the campaign and do ef-
fective work among the churches.
Mrs. Craigie lectures this afternoon
at the Country Club on the subject,
: THE Ideal Suffragist." and on Friday
: night at the Temple lectures on the
subject, Have Women a Duty to the
State" Mrs. Craigie has an interna-
tional reputation as speaker.
The conference opened this after
noon at. the Country Club with Mrs.
Ebert state president, presiding. Mrs.
Benlah Boyd Ritchie, president OF the
local Political Equality Club. in a
few gracious words on behalf of the
club. welcomed this distinguished
body OF women to the city. Mrs.
Ritchie said:
Mrsl Ritehie's Address.
e.It is my privilege this afternoon
to welcome the West Virginia Equal
Suffrage Association and its friends