The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-22
FIRST W0MAN'S RIGHTS
SOCIETY IN RICHMOND.
Miss Pearl Bodeker, Formerly of This
City, Presents Interesting
Historical Fact.
ADDRESSED TO W. A. JONES
Virginia Congressman Hears Plea Of
SufYragfst For His Favorable Action
on Susan b. Anthony Amendment.

Miss Pearl Bodeker, of Washington.
formerly of this city, presented an in
.eresting bit Of suffrage history in
virginia to Congressman w. A. Jones
when she appeared with delegation
OF nifty women in behalf of the Susan
q. Anthony amendment. Mr.. Jones
received the delegation in his Office at
the Capitol. Among others who urged
the virginia Congressman to act fav-
oraDiy on the amendment measure
when 1t comes before the Sixty fourth
Congress. were: Mrs. Richard Cole
9urieson, Mrs. H. Lockwood, Mrs.
Frank Cottrell, and Mrs. Weed and
Miss Emily Stearnes, formerly of
Richmond. Miss Bodeker, in part
said:
Organized Here In 1870.
During the year of 1870 Mrs. Anna
Whitehead Bodeker, wife Of the late
Hon. Augustus Bodeker, organized
the nrst Women's Rights Society in
virginia at Richmond. Mrs. Thomas
BALDWIN. Mrs. Elizabeth Cone, Miss
Eliza beth Van Lew, then postmistress,
ana Miss Emma Langstedt, formed
the little band. Mrs. Bodeker work
ed hard amid severe criticism
amounting almost to ignominy She
had neny followers In secret who
would attend her parlor talks. but
owing to home opposition withheld
their names from the association list.
Susan B. Anthony. Elizabeth Cady
stanton. and Lille Devereux Blake
gave her support by Iecturing before
the Richmond public. Mrs, Bodeker
secured the House of Delegates in
1872 for a lecture. and just the day
before the dreadful catastrophe tthe
collapse of the Senate foor) at I'll.
State Capitol occurred which made it
necessary for her to seek another
place. Through thee ourtesy OF Judge
Underwood the United States court
room was rendered her. and this was
the occasion of the first public address
on the subject OF Women's Rights in
Virginia.
The bill giving woman her prop
erty in her own rights after marriage
was framed by Mrs Bodeker and
fathered by Mr.. Smith and carried by
the interchangeable enorts of Mrs. Bode-
ker among her many friends in both
the Senate and House. Her husband
was at that time a member of the
House.
Cast Vote In Presidential Election.
Ms. Bodeker cast her vote IN the
presidential election (Which, OF course.
was not valid). but recorded among
the archives at the Virginia Capitol.
cAit JpAISa h0t
in their pilgrimage to Washington APP
pealing for liberty.
MY sister, Mrs. VIM. Graeme
Harvey and l are here today to say,
as her daughters that We are trying
to carry on her work for Virginia
women, that they may enjoy full civil,
political and religious liberty on the
same terms that every man OF Virginia
enjoys it.
The same opposition among ths
men of their homes that my mother
felt In her day Is keeping thousands
OF Virginia women from openly ally
ing themselves with the suffrage
movement. The very chivalry that
leads the Virginia men to tenderly
protect his own women from hard
contact with the world closes his mind
to the needs of the unprotected wo-
men, who must have the power OF
f-protection. The protected women
have come to realize the class needs
of women, and whether they voice +,
publicly or not. the women OF Virginia
realize their need of political liberty,
They are behind VIZ in our request that
you men do your share in protecting
them I'm the enjoyment OF that liberty
(which the Constitution claims to give
all citizens) by voting yes on the
submission of the Susan Is. Anthony
amendment in the Stxty-fourth Con-
gress"