The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-04
MRS. RUSSELL. ON
 SUFFRAGE DRIVE.

Hartford, June 4.---Mrs. Samuel Russell, Jr., who Is well known through her activities in connection with war work, particularly as chair chairman of the Connecticut Woman's Motor Corps Division, but who has not been actively Identified with wo- man suffrage, today told why she de- cided to accept the chairmanship of the state campaign committee that will conduct the campaign throughout the state to raise by public subscrfp- tions S10O. 900 for the Connecticut Wo- nan Suffrage Association.
 The money is to be devoted to a citizenship program and other public services to help in training the women of the state to be competent citizens when full enfranchisement arrives The campaign for funds will be con ducted from June to Juno 1s by vast army of volunteer workers, and every inhabitant of the state will be given the opportunity to subscribe, Mrs. Russell said.
 "America is giving women the vote, the women must give America an in telligent vote" Mrs. Russell said. "Every thinking person knows that the majority of new voters will be without experience and training in political and civic thinking, and that the state, for its own protection, must take some action to prepare these voters to be competent citizens.
 There will be more than $50, 900 women voters in this State, and in the interval before the coming of full enfranchisement some sort of non- partisan organization should see to It that these women are given unbiased training and information that will help them to decide intelligently as to tfeir party alignment and as to their civic duties and responsibilities.
 Two extremes must be guarded against-complete, and therefore flu tile, independence' and complete party docility. Thirty-eight per cent. of the women of Connecticut are of native parentage. 24 per cent. are of foreign or mixed percentage, and 3s per cent. are foreign born.
 The world war has linked us so closely with the lands across the seas that the good and bad come to us swiftly. The forces that are playing on the hearts and minds of the peo- pies of Europe make 1t vitally inn portant that a knowledge of the prin- ciles, and organization processes by which good government Is maintained should be taught to our coming voters.
 AS this wOrk or training our wO- men must be done by somebody. 1t ts only a question of finding who can do it most effectively and econnomical- ly. The efficient executive who is confronted with a task looks for those best qualified to do the work.
 Tt seems to me and to others who have come into this movement that the Connectictt Woman Suffrage As sociation Is the best qualified. It has ready at hand the necessary ma chinery and the organization. It is thoroughly organized throughout the state, is in close touch with the wo- it for the task of carrying the mes sage of good citizenship and good government to our women. Its method have always been construc- tive and orderly.
 Above all, the women of this of- Sanization have long devoted their time and energies in behalf of suf- frage, and 1t Is certainly now their duty and responsibility to help in creating an enlightened citizenship out of the new voters.
 T would like to make 1t clear that this Is not solely a woman's move ment. The men of the state are alive to the necessity for this citizenship WOThs anu we tNptCI InuCu, II HOl more. support from them as from the women.
 Everybody will be given the op- portunity to subscribe to the fund. and I am sure that every citizen who is alive to the need of the state and nation for good citizenship will want to help.
 '-The war revealed the fact that an appalling proportion of the electorate is iiiiterate. and when full suffrage comes Connecticut must be pre- pared. We do not want a quantity i'm crease merely. We must have a quality increase.
 ''Citizenship committees are being organized all over the country for the men, and various plans are being put into effect. Tho need for this work. .s just as great among the women, and we feel that we will serve the state best by concentrating our ef forts on the women" DIRECT WIRES TO