Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-13

Inc annual convention of the Vernon
Equai Suffrage association opened Tues
day morning in the parlors of the New
Sherwood Hotel, with good number O
delegates and other members present
Mrs a. l.. Bailey, the State president
presided. The room was decorated with
daffodils and potted ferns.
The business session opened at ter
o'clock with a prayer by the Rev. c. G
Adams, followed by a word of welcom,
by City Attorney H. S. Peck. who tool
the place of Mayor j. Holmes jackson
who was unable to be present
Mr.. Peck said in part: THE uppermos
thought in your minds to-day is not will
what degree of cordiality you are greeted
but the success of your cause. I under
stand that Vermont is the first State ir
New England to grant certain civil right.
to women. Not everyone will agree witt
you in what you believe, but | am sur,
all will be glad to have this meeting g
success. and l hope 1t will bring to you
and to the people of the State an enlarged
vision on the civil rights of women.
am sure the whole State will welcome
your national president Mrs Carrie
chapman Gait. who is so justly famous
Mr.. Peck concluded by extending to the
| convention the freedom and hospitality
of the city
Mrs. A l.. Bailey gave the response
She said, in part:
| In behalf of the Vermont Equal Suf-
frage association, and personally. | thank
you for your greeting and cordial words
| of welcome. We wish to express our ap-
probation of the hospitality of your
beautiful city. your Suffrage League and
the friends of suffrage participating in
the success of this convention.
| During the war, the work hiss been of
"A patriotic nature. After the war the
chief activities of the year have been
| congressional work for the federal
amendment with Statewide petition
work for ratification. Our legislative work
has been for presidential suffrage.
| president Wilson has given every evil
dence that he has done his utmost to Sc
| cure the passage of the federal suffrage
| amendment. We deeply appreciated this
| and also Senator Pages support and also
| that of Congressman Porter II. Dale.
THE support of the press touches our
| hearts with gratitude for the interest
| manifested in this measure for justice and
right and for the very generous space ac-
corded our cause. l believe the press to
| be the greatest compelling power.
Much credit in the years work should
he given different members of our league
| for their efforts. In the drive for funds,
Mrs. w. l.. Bryant did admirably; in the
Legislative work, DIR. Grace w Sherwood
carried on the work excelently. Our
inspiration and unsurpassabe leader has
been Mrs. Halsey w Wilson. the
recording secretary of the National as
sociation. The State is fortunate to have
national officer working for it. and
| honored indeed to have with us at this
convention the national president, Mrs.
| Carrie Chapman Gait, who is also inter-
| national president of 26 nations"
Mrs. Bailey also mentioned the work of
Mrs. l.. c. Blanchard. Mrs. j. Borden
Estee, Mrs, Annette Parmclee, Mrs. l..
X. Thomas. Mrs. Anna Hawkes. Putnam
md Mrs. +. II. Read,
Mrs. Bailey spoke of the coming ma
tional convention at St. Louis. saying:
Mrs, Carrie Chapman Gait. president
of the National Woman's Suffrage as
sociation, declares that this conven-
ton will be memorable event in suf-
frage annals and possibly American
politics.
Mrs. Gait believes that women
should take action to equalize the laws
affecting women and children in the
| several states.
THE great diversity of laws which
concern women and children in our
several States is continued menace
TO the welfare and safety of the un-
fortunate and uniformed The average
woman cannot be expected to know the
! peculiarties of the laws in As differ
ent States
She is not likely to know that in
Colorado she may legally demand an
eight-hour working day, but that she
could be compelled to work IL hours in
Alabama for her daily wage; that her
children could not be legally employed
under the laws of Oregon, but that no
law will protect them In the event
| their father desires to hire them out in
North Carolina"
The convention will mark the 5oth
anniversary of the founding of the
National Suffrage association. will com
memorate the 50th ami iversary of the
granting of suffrage to Wyoming, and
VIII pay tribute to the States which
have enlarged their electorate.
Mrs. Bailey closed with a tribute 70
burlington. saying it reminded her of
| the stanza;
I'm Athena, Sparta Florence' twas
the soul.
That was the city's bright immortal
part,
The splendor of the spirit was their
goal,
Their jewel. the uncomfortable
| heart"
REPORTS PRESENTED AND COM
MITTEES NAMED
Mrs. +. II. Read, recording secretary,
read the summary of the minutes of
the last meetingh including the report
| OF MRS. l.. III. Clzcndam, which was
read at that time, and also the report
or the two executive board meetings
Following this, Miss Anne Batchel-
der was complimented on being the
hrst woman to be elected to an Office
IN Woodstock; that is, outside of the
school board.
The following nominating committee
was appointed; Mrs Harry S, Beal of
Springfield. Mrs Mary Grace Garfield of
Woodstock and Mrs, l.. X. Thomas Of st.
| Adams
The resolutions committee appointed
was MRS. Annette w, Parmelee of Enos-
burg Falls, Mrs l.. G. Blanchard of Mont
pelier and DR.. Marion Horton OF Wind
sor
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