The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-28
WOMEN PREPARE
TO TAKE PART IN :
CITY ELECTION
Equal Suffrage League Will
Organize Wards for Regis
tratiOn of Women Voters
and Start Campaign.

oniess the men bestir themselves. the
,'oIi.ssl wTnlen % OF Memphis will be organized
poiIuehliy before the men are Stems
were taken Monday by the members IN
tne memphis Equal Suffrage league.
20 organize in every voting precinct
LOT tne registration of the women vot-
ers; ana to select list OF women who
VIII agree to serve as registrars and
later as clerks and Judges in the No
Yember election
Members of the woman's congress and
OF the Equal Franchise club, two other
s;1piirsge ;1ar organizations, will take sim
ldr action within the next few Nays
All are working together, under the
ton.
Mrs. S. ]. Ellis, president OF the
Equal Suffrage league, is chairman for
Sheloy county Of the state association
MRS. Isaac Reese Is chairman for the
tenth congressional district. Mrs. r.
H. Beattie Is one Of the state officers.
Ward Organization.
At Mondays meeting a number Of
committees were appointed to see that
women IN their wards register next
their members of the league the neces-
sity or organizing every ward and of
Il Eonducting campaign of education
among women voters
Later as the municipal campaign de-
pPDIClit CdulpdlBu
Will be started, not in the interest OF
any candidate or ticket, but IN a gem
erat way to interest women in their
new duties as citizens and voters.
NO accurate data is at hand, but II
is estimated that not less than 10000
women are eligible to register and vote
in Memphis.
In view Of the new movement in
memphis, begun by a large group Of
men who believe it is time for the peo-.
Nt.s a. IT.~r. AIs - -
the professional and politicians on
municipal affairs. and to nominate and
elect mayor and four city commits
siohers, who will carry on the gov
ernment OF the, city for Memphis, and
not for politicians, the fact that 20, :
900 or more women may vote either for
or against the candidates next fan car
ries possibilities that the politicians
at least, do not relish.
Some Of these ideas were brought out
IN the brief addresses made az the suf-
frage meeting Monday morning. Mrs.
Ellis presided and the attendance waa
seonsidered, most satisfactory, in view II
the fact that numbers OF the flefnbefs
are away VA 4 from the city 81 The rriseetine
ters on the third floor at Lowenstein s..
Some Of the best known women In
Memphis are among the officers OF the
Memphis Equal Suffrage league. The
present official list includes besides
u,
Fentress, Mrs. David Puryear and Mrs.
r. G.. Walker. e-presidents Mrs.
Walter Fraser, recording secretary.
Mrs. Arthur Robinson, corresponding
secretary; Mrs. Irby Bennett treasurer;
Mrs George Bone, auditor Members of
s. Buchanan, e. HI. tBowser r. G. Will
jingham, Hugh Hayley, and Miss Louise
p Looney Chairmen of committees
are Mines. Giles Bond, J. II. Pope, Hill
Bond, John Galella, John o. F1autt and
Hillary Johnson.
Register Together.
Names of men and women registrants
win be entered in the same registra-
ton books, the only evidence to indicate
the sex Of the voter being column
opposite the names. which will be
male, and "F'' for female. in the opin-
ion of Judge d. B. Puryear, chairman
Of the Shelby county election board.
To avoid confusion at the polls, a
different sort of registration certifi-
cate will be supplied the members of
the fair sex.
"Although we really have no doubt
that the election Judges will experience
no difficulty in differentiating between
the male and female voters" Judge
Puryear added with smile
The first election in Shelby county
at which women can vote, under the
right of the ballot granted them by
the decision of the Tennessee supreme
court Saturday, will be the NqTember
election, this year, when a. mayor OF
Memphis. four city commissioners and
city tax assessor will be elected, To
vote In tn election, women will be
required tN have registration papers
RegistrationA vii start on Aug II, Mon
days for 10A yys, exclusive of Sunday
There also wtNbe supplemental cleo
tion Of three6t VS.. held 20 days before
the election. y Y
Poll tax receipts will not be required
of women voters, unless a special ses-
sion of the Tennessee legislature is
called by Gov Roberts. to provide for
this paper which is so necessary to
the male voters. In case no special
election. is called. women will be re-
quiYed to show only their registration
papers at the polls. They will thus be
placed in the class of men over 81
years OF age-exempt from poll taxa
tion.