Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-18

There are in America today many
women with large means at their
command There are likewise in
America today public spirited, influ-
entail women with large followings of
other women enlisted under the ban
ner of this cause or that faith But
just one woman in America today is
at once the leader of a vast yet COM
pact srmy of women of all Creeds and
faiths, united for a common cause,
and, as we'll, the appointed custodian
of fortune to be used under her di-
rection for the advancement of that
cause. Her name is Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait. She is the head of the huge
hut closely knitted organization of ma
tional scope, known as the National
American Woman Suffrage Associa-
ton. She is also the head of a suf-
4rage organization Of international
scope the International Woman Suf-
frage Alliance, made up Of the nation
al suffrage associations or 26 different
countries. Her devotion to the suffrage
cause and her genius for organizing
women to work for it and fight for it
are responsible for the bequest to suf-
frage of Mrs. Frank Leslie's estate of
nearly two million dollars. Mrs. Les
lie, herself an able woman distln-
euished by a successful business rec
ord made the following provision in
| her will:
1T is my expectation and wish
that she turn all of my said resid-
uary estate into cash, and apply
III no
think most advisable to the fur
therance of the cause of Womans
Suffrage to which she has so
worthily devoted so many years
of her life, and she shall make
suitable provision, SO that in case
of her death any balance thereof
remaining unexpended may be ap-
piled and expended in the same
way; but this expression OF my
wish and expectation is not to he
taken as creating any trust or as
limiting or affecting the character
of the gift TO her which | Intend
to be absolute and unrestricted.
Her qualities of leadership, supple
monted by having had imposed on her
the guardianship of this Leslie SUI
frage fund, have kept the eyes OF
America turned upon Mrs. Gait LOT
several wears Everybody is Interested
to know what manner of woman she IS
and what her plans are for dischars-
ing the trust resposed in her. Accord
ing to plan just announced, cor
poration. probably to be called line
Leslie Woman Suffrage Commission
will be established at once under the
law Of the state of New York. MIS-
Gait will turn over to the commission
the administration of the fund ana
share with other members of the Ger
poration the responsibility of making
MANS for the disbursements and car
rvine them into effect. There Will be
five incorporators who by vote Will acd
to the membership of the commission
until it numbers Is. These incorporat-
ors will be:
Carrie Chapman Gait. New York,
Alice Stone Blackwell, Massachusetts,
Harriet Taylor Upton, Ohio. Mrs. VIM
ston Churchill New Hampshire, Mrs
RAYMOND Robins, Illinois.
The rules governing the Commission
will be: That every member shall
serve without remuneration; that no
member shall profit directly or indi-
rectly by the fund; that if at any time
three-fourths of the members shall re-
ouire the resignation Of any member,
that request shall be considered oblt-
eatory. Whenever death or resignation
creates a vacancy. the place may be
filled by a majority vote Of the remain
ing members The Commission will thus
become self perpetuating.
The object will be the administration
of the residue Of Mrs. Leslie's estate
and the disbursement, any any other be-
quests which 1t may receive in the in
terest Of woman suffrage propaganda.
The Commission will establish a Ma
tional Bureau Of Suffrage Education as
its chief work The methods employed
for the development Of this bureau and
other lines of work will be determined
at the first meeting Of the Commission
Campaigns within states Will con-
tinue to be conducted by the State sur
fraee Association and the federal cam
paign will continue to be conducted by
the National American Woman Suffrage
Association. In other words, the Com
mission will not conflict with the WORK