Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-04-23
WOMEN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IN FIFTH DISTRICTS CAMPAIGN
Regarded Little Specifically in the Previous Drives Or
ganzation Has Become Effective Asset-Women
Under Mrs. George J. Seay Have Proved They Cannot
Only Sort Bandages, But Can Sell Bonds.


To the question, "What are the wo-
men doing to win this wars" the an
swer might well be, Everything
with the further admission that "every-
thing they are doing they are doing
| well.n
In Red Cross work, making surgi-
| cal dressings and bandages, and knit
! ting socks, helmets and sweaters; in
the production and conservation of
food; in nursing, and in other phases
of so-called "woman's work" women
! are expected to live up to a certain
standard of excellence, but when it
comes to commercial matters ans mat
ters of finance, "the wonder. IS tn,
oft-quoted DR.. johnson remarked, dis
not that they do it SO well, but that
they do it at ALL"
Tentatively secretary of the treas
ury and the great financiers of the
nation offered women--individuall
the opportunity to show what they
could do to buy and sell bonds dur
ing the first Liberty Loan. There was
no organization Of women proposed;
but the individual woman did so
much to help on the loan that there
was no question of not asking her to
enter the second Liberty Loan cam
paign as an organization and not as
an individual. In business like way
she went at it. A general chairman
was appointed to take charge of each
Ed hn-
state, city and county chairmen who
were to look to her for comfort and
guidance and yet "keep their powder
dry" by working individually.
Ready for Third Lean.
It was a fine scheme on paper, and
would have worked out as finely in
| actual practice but for the fact that
some of the district chairmen. through
| no fault of their own, were so late
in getting started. That threw state,
city and county chairmen a little out
of gear, and though the women did
marvelously well in the bond selling
drive for the second Liberty Loan,
they might do better if only they had
another chance
The chance was not lacking. The
very moment rumors of third Lib
| erty Loan were whispered from Wash
ington the women began to get busy.
This time they knew well enough what
they were about.
For the Fifth district, comprising
Virginia, West Virginia, North and
South Carolina, Maryland and the Dis
trict of Columbia, Mrs George J. Seay,
wife of George j. Seay. of the Federal
Reserve bank of RICHMOND, was ap-
pointed general chairman as well as
chairman for the city of RICHMOND.
Tn the shortest possible time Mrs. Seay
| had selected and called a meeting of
her state chairmen, at which meeting
| arrangements were made and every
| detail threshed out for the work in
1 the state. In the meantime. as city
chairman, Mrs. Seay had communi.
Gated with and formed WORKING COM
mittee of the heads Of every voman's
organization in the city of RICH
Z MOND, and when this committee met
I there were over eighty women pres
ent-they found to their amazemant
that their chairman had completely
formulated perfectly simple. feasible,
wellworked-out plan by means of
which they could cooperate without
friction, without the imposition of
extra work placed on any one or
ganization, and without the smallest
show of partisanship or favoritism.
Splendid Cooperation.
The cooperative drive of these for
ty-five women's organizations for the
third Liberty Loan has been the big
gest thing ever accomplished by
RICHMOND women, and to the able
direction of Mrs. Seay, aided by her
vice-chairman, Mrs John Kerr Branch,
must be attributed the wonderful sue
cess these organizations have had in
"going over the top in just eight days
( of good, hard work with $1,035 800 to
/ their credit.
This sum forms one-ninth of RICH