The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-06-13
SPLENDID MEETING HELD IN os-
p, KALoosA ON SATURDAY.
ADDRESS BY MRS. DODSON
Need of Federal Amendment - Time
Now To Enfranohise Women
Plans For Coming Suffrage
School at Penn College.

siderable enthusiasm SHOWN In spite
of the fact chat many who expected
to come were hindered by difficulties
of travel. The district leader could
not be present on account of Illness.
Mrs. Dewitt presided in her stead,
very effectively, and when other
speakers were absent substitutes APP
peared for them.
Outdoor Luncheon.
The luncheon was held out of doors
and was especially enjoyable. Fol-
lowing il the meeting opened with a
patriotic song. Some time was spent
in reviewing the business of the year
and in making plans. The Mahaska
County League decided to fall in line
with several other county organia-
tons in buying a liberty bond and
presenting it to the State Association.
One county bought three.
Mrs. Dodson's Address.
Mrs. Dodson, Recording Secretary
of the State Association gave very
interesting address on the federal
amendment and it's relation to the
work in Iowa. She expressed the
belief that the end is in sight and that
within very few years the u. S.
Constitution will be amended so as
to make women real participators in
government. She reviewed the his
tory of the movement previous to the
Civil War Womens war work
caused the movement to be laid aside
for time. 1t was resumed in 1866.
AT first enfranchisement was sought
through the respective states. The
proposed fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments made suffrage a nation
al matter. Susan B. Anthony thought
that the white woman should be en-
franchised first but even the male
friends of equal suffrage preferred
TO enfranchise the recently enamel
pated negro first. An amendment
to enfranchise women was later pro-
posed and has been under considera-
ton for fifty years with meager re-
suits until successful state campaigns
increased the equal suffrage elector-
ate which now is more than one-fifth
of the whole electorate.
Need Of Federal Amendment.
Mrs. Dodson explained why fed
eral amendment is needed. The state
method is at best long and circutous.
In number of states state consti-
tutional amendment is practically i'm
possible. Some permit only one
amendment at a time. Indiana re-
quires a majority of the whole cleo
torate whether they do or do not
vote. In New Mexico, besides other
difficulties, if an amendment falls
short of a two-thirds majority IN a
single county it is lost, irrespective of
what the state majority may be.
Time To Do 1t Now.
Is there time TO enfranchise women
now? Great Britain and Canada
have taken time to do so. Belgium,
France and Italy have made liberal
promises and even Austria-Hungary
is considering it. This war has in
volved women peculiarly. One of
the combatants has held to the policy
of enforcing motherhood. Women
have sacrificed and suffered much
AS Secretary Baker says, without
women's work the war could not go
on. They should not only do war
work, but should have right to say
when war shall be, and in the difficult
reconstruction period they will need
the ballot as never before TO guaran-
tee to every child the right to live
and to be free.
Child Welfare Work.
In the absence of Mrs. Taylor, DR..
EfIie McCullom Jones spoke on Child
Welfare Work. The movement was
initiated April 6. Pres. Wilson says
that it is the next biggest thing to
sending an army to Europe OF those
that are sent many will not return,
or will return incapacitated Half
of the two or three hundred thousand
children that die annually might be
saved. About one-fourth of our
drafted men are rejected for physical
defects many of which were remed-
liable in childhood. The Council of
National Defense has taken up the
work Of saving our babies, and
Baby Welfare Movement is planned.
Every child under five is TO be exam
ined and record made and other
necessary measures taken.
Mrs. Dewitt, who is County Chair
man for the Child Welfare Work, re-
ported that she and Mrs. Davis and
Miss Kilburn had found the local
physicians willing to cooperate in ev-
cry way. The Suffrage Association
will aid in every possible way.
Women in War Work.
The Overseas Hospital, which is
conducted by women and supported
by the National Association, was de-
scribed by Mrs. Dodson. This unit
was at first intended for civilian SER
vice but has been Communicated and
= giving part of its services to sol
The Suffrage School.
- ~. Jones spoke on the Suffrage |
School to be held in oskaloosa June
ibf eatn s.lI tat pti
,.~~l Dun1euruuu