The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-11-05
PUBLIC SCHOOL IS
ABSOLUTE DEMOCRACY
Speakers at Suffrage Meeting Ex-
press Confidence In Final Out
come-E1ect Delegates.
Mothers will be more benefit

Mothers will be more benefited
by the ballot than any other class
! of women said Mrs. William
Gemmell. speaking yesterday after
noon before the Equal Suffrage
league of Richmond. Mothers are
the corner stone OF all we represent.
And while we realize the serious
responsibility of the ballot, we look
forward to making possible with our
votes, better schools. better play
/ grounds, and all the welfare
measures in which the mothers
clubs have so long been interested.
Mothers have slowed away In their
| hearts and souls so many thoughts
unknown to the fathers. hope
/ that when the franchise is granted
us, we shall cause the fathers to
bless the day"
Eighteen years ago" said Mrs.
| Gertrude shelton Hobson. demon
straung the need of the business
woman for the ballot there were
down town. a few scattered women
stenographers. Today, women are
making good in every line. they are
carrying on business in credit to
themselves and to the firms they
represent And they are the thrift
test class of people ! know They
are in every line OF investments
from real estate to stocks, and they
all bought liberty bonds and war
savings stamps. Also realizing their
own economic value, they are in
Vesting in life insurance. when l
Was a girl very few women had their
lives insured And as means to
greater seIf-respect they realize
fully their need of the ballot They
discuss the subject constantly. but.
they are depending upon you lead
ers, you women who have the leis-
ure TO devote TO the cause to gain
the vote for them. and they ask
constantly what progress the cause
is making"
Miss Bessie r. Taylor. member Of
the educational commission. SPEAK
ing from the teachers standpoint.
said. Next to the mother | feel
that the teacher has the most need
OF the vote. for she is called upon
to teach citizenship to girls and
boys when she herself is not now
permitted to exercise the right Of
citizenship.
1t is great JOY to her to feel
that in the future the girls she
trains, viii. as well as the boys. be
granted the privileges of citizen
ship. And many of you women
here today. would give much to be
as well grounded in the duties OF
citizenship as the school child of
today, for the public school is an
absolute democracy"
Mrs. Walter S Mcneil. vice
president OF the kiborue farm In
Chesterfield county. member Of the
board of the Industrial Home school
for colored girls in Hanover county,
member of the executive council of
the Equal Suffrage League of
Richmond, was chairman ~ the at
ternoon The meeting closed with
the election Of delegates from the
Richmond League to the state con
Vention TO be held in Richmond,
Noverber 20-2l
Delegates 20 Convention.
The following delegates have been
elected to represent the Richmond
league Westhampton and Henrico
county at the state convention to be
held at the Jefferson hot.l. Rich
mond, Va, November % and ~ 1919
Richmond. Mrs Kate Langley
Kosher. Mrs. William Carey James.
Mrs. Horace Wexford Jones, Mrs
carter Welstger, Mrs @. W r. Kern.
Mrs. T. G. Gordon. Mrs. ST GeorKe
Bryan. Mrs. Russell Bowie Jr
Juanita Shaw, Mrs. Il. \. Grant. Mrs.
Richard Eley Mrs, Cooke. Miss
Fes~ie r Taylor. Miss CornenA
\ / r. Miss Myrtle e n K.
Miss Ada Bali. Mrs + g Minor.
Mrs, Gertrude shelton Hobson Miss
Kate F. Meade, Mrs walter f. Hub
ard. Mrs Thomas w. Smythe. Miss
Mary Harris. Miss Gertrude Lewis.
Niss Louise Lewis Mrs John Dorset