Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-14
Ballots for Both
in The
Pine Tree State

The Mems Equal Suffrage League of
Maine opened headquarters for the
Campaign today on the first floor of
the Boyd Block at the corner Of Mid
die and Exchange streets, Portland.
The League was organized three years
ago and has extended its organization
throughout the State on District and
County lines. 1t now has approx
mately six hundred members.
Plans for the Campaign were form
ulated at a meeting held in Augusta in
the House Of Representatives in
March. This meeting was attended by
members from all sections Of the
State that filled the hall Of the House
of Representatives, and was addressed
by Governor Carl E. Milliken; Ex-U.
S. Senator Charles F. Johnson of
Waterville: Hon. Robert T. White
house Of Portland; Ex-Atty. General
VIM. r. Pattangall Of Augusta. and
Hon. Obadiah Gardner Of Rockland.
At this meeting $500 was raised for
the preliminary expenses of the Cam
paign and pledges of support were
made from all sections. The follow
ing list Of officers were elected to have
charge Of the Campaign, with repre-
sentative from each congressional dis
trict and each county to look after the
local organizations in the several
towns and cities Of the State.
President Robert T. Whitehouse
Portland; vice presidents. Congress
sional District Chairmen Alexander r
Laughlin. Portland, c. S. Stetson
Greene. VIM. r. Pattangar, Water
vile, Ira G. Hersey, Houlton: secre-
tary Ralph o. Brewster; treasurer
George H. Allan.
Executive Committee: Hiram Rick
err, Androscoggin; Leonard A. Pierce,
Aroostook: E. c. Reynolds. Cumbre-
land; E. f. Richards. Franklin; Hon.
John A. Peters. Hancock: Willis E.
Swift. kennebec; Cyrus w. Topper,
Lincoln: Robert J. Alley. Penobscot:
Alton c. Wheeler, Oxford: Frank B.
Guernsey. Piscataquis; Rupert Bax-
ter, Sagadahoc: Hodgdon c. Buzzell
Waldo; John r. Tumble. Washington;
Aaron B. Cole, York
It was decided to open headquarters
in Portland because the city was per-
haps visited by more people from var
ious sections Of the state during the
summer than any other place. Very
attrs ctive and convenient headduar-
ters have been secured in the Boyd
Block and an assistant secretary and
stenographer will have charge Of these
headquarters which will be open from
$50 to p. NJ. every day. From these
headquarters literature will be sent to
all sections Of the State and the local
organizations will be perfected.
Very gratifying responses have been
received from all sections and the
early reports from the field indicate
that the leaders Of thought in Maine
arc fully alive to the growth Of the
Equal Suffrage Movement throughout
the world. This is unquestionably the
last opportunity which Maine will have
to maintain it's ancient position to
leadership among the states of the
east by leading these states into the
column Of full equal suffrage. 100000
American women will vote for the
next President and this fact seems to
rave impressed the men Of Maine with
the desirability Of making their WON
en- the equals Of their sisters in the
civilized world.
The growth of the Suffrage Move
ment abroad as direct result Of the
invaluable contribution of women to
the war seems also to have dissipated
the last doubt in many minds as to
the right Of women to vote. England
and Russia expect shortly to give
women full suffrage and the latest list
Of reforms of the Progressive party
in Germany includes woman suffrage
Prominent leaders throughout the
State Of Maine seem to feel almost
without exception that it is high time
that Maine ard the United States vim
dicated before the world it's claim to
leadership in Democracy.
The Mems Equal Suffrage League is
prepared to furnish speakers and liter
ature for meetings in any section of
the State to present to the voters the
simple truths as to the history and de-
velopment Of the ballot Of woman to
the point where these two are now
meeting for the uplifting and better
ment Of mankind and the vindication
Of Democracy against Autocracy.
PAlaftve tn, the question OF woman