Putnam patriot., 1917-10-05
EQUAL FRANCHISE
LEAGUE DISBANDED
To Be Organized as Branch Of the
National Neman's Party
Thought That Federal Amendment the
Most Direct for Enfranehisemeni

ne IutHatn Iludt ttahShiSN ~
vote of the members present at
the Annual meeting held Wednesday
evening to disband and reorganize in
To branch of the National Noman's
Party This is the first league in the
state which has taken SO important a
step.
That the work and time spent in
the state work is futile has been DEM
onstrated by the result of the reteren.
dun in Maine and what is expected
from New York In November.
The resignation OF live Of the most
aggressive leaders from the Conn.
Woman's Suffrage association, Mrs.
Thos. \ Hepburn, Presidents Mrs. NJ.
Tosean Bennett, Treasurer; Miss Emily
Piersou and Miss katherine Mullen,
State organizers, and Miss Katherine
Flanagan, Department Secretary,
grows out OF their belief in the direct
and enegertic methods of the National
Womans Party
Al the annual meeting of the league
no one could be elected To officer the
organization in its continued work
Estate wisel and believing that more
efficient body could be formed by
aligning with the Woman's Party, the
motion to disoand was carried.
designations from all but three of
the board OF directors have been re
eeived by the president, most Of them
giving favorable reasons for declining
To do state work any longer.
The following statement from Miss
Levitt expresses the general views OF
the board:
To the Members of the Equal Fran
ehise League II has become my duty
10 resign rs president Of this league.
Circumstances oblige me to address
this communication to the. members
present as the Chairman, and ten
members of the Board Of Directors
nave already resigned.
As one of the charter members of
this organization | have always
worked for It's interests in this town
aud city.
For nearly,as long time, have
also been y member Of the Gongfessiou-
al Union, now The National Moman's
Party, but mine was sort Of "iong
distance aud indifferent service rs
felt that the work in this state and IN
Washington co ordinated and WIS
Fundamentally the same. My view
point, however, has changed and l
have awakened to The fact that en-.
ffanchising women state BY stale IS
both futile aud answers no useful end.
am glad to be member Of the Ma
tional Woman's Party but deplore my
lost opportunities aud inaction, and
not being far sighted enough TO re-
cognize that the enfranehisement Of all
the women Of the nation WAS bigger
better and more just through the pas
sage Of the federal amendment.
am grateful for the spirit OF saeri-
flee and devotion TO principle that the
women on The picket line in Washing
! ton manifest working for my free.
dom and yours, especially am | CRATE.
fui and appreciative for the sacrifices
Of the Two women from my state, Miss
Katherine Flanagan Of Hartford aud
Mrs. Dorothy Jones Bartlett first presi
dent OF this League, who dared 20
forth ana upheld The standards OF
mLiberiy, Equality and Fraternity
Therefore, my duty, being IN sympathy
with pieketing is 10 support the party
guiding this phase and other necessary
methods OF working toward the pas
sage of the Susan Il. Anthony amend-
ment. and IL seems the only course for
me 20 follow, is to work single minded
for the National Woman's Party. One
quarter Of the members Of this league
are already enrolled and IL would not
be such a big step in the right difec-
ton TO devote all their time, energy
and talents in the cause that Is TO give
Justice TO all the women OF the nation,
instead of only to those living in Con
necticut.
In my office as president, have
found the officers and members ever
ready in their support and co opera
ton, and in Withdrawing as active
head Of this organization, / thank you
all for your teamwork and hearty
service.
Faithfully Yours,
Anns Z. Levitt, President.
| The League was organized by MISS
1 Pierson in the spring OF 1918. Nearly
1 hnx .rnolAara