The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-07-15
MRS. OLZENDAM
WOULD |MPE ZACH
Gov CLEMENT
Executives Position ArOuses
Sentiment for Suffrage
CAUSE GATHERING POWER
Prominent Men from All Sections Of
State Included in Membership Of
Committee.

The st. Adams Messenger Wednes
day published the following special
from Burlington
Burlington, July 14.-Vermont SEN
timent is overwhelmingly in favor Of
calling a special session of the Yer
mont Legislature to pass on the fed
eral woman suffrage amendment, ac.
cording to suffrage leaders making
their headquarters in this city. AS
partial proof Of this, the mems com
mittee for ratification in Vermont,
composed of men of more or less
prominence in state affairs, and from
all walks of life, is pointed to. It is
further pointed out that three of the
four candidates for the Republican
nomination for governor are unquali-
fedly in favor Of a special session,
Agan is the only holdout. Hartness,
Babbitt, and Emery are not only Civ
ing their moral but also their active
support. These three have given as
surance that they will be pleased to
act as yice-chairmen of the Mems
Ratification Committee of which ].
Gregory Smith, of st. Adams, is chair
mar.
Maj. II. Nelson Jackson, chairman
of the Republican delegation to Chi
cago is also one Of the vice.chairmen
together with President Guy w. Bail
ey of the University Of Vermont, for
mer secretary of state, and President
John NJ, Thomas president Of Middle
bury College.
impeachment would be too easy
| for Clement, said Mrs Lillian
Olzendam prominent suffrage leader
when interviewed at her apartment
in this city. obstinate, himself and
bull headed, the only man of promin-
enee in the state who is opposed to
women voting, he is also puppet in
fthe hands 0f w. b. c. Sickney, Of
! Poultney, a so-called power behind
1.-The thrcne." The Governors action
was characterized by Mrs. Olzendam,
leader OF the drive in the state for
Ratification and by Miss Ann Batchel.
lder. another active suffrage worker
las being an act Of an obstinate man
l"lt isn they said, directly opposed
to the information that Senator Hard.
ling sent Mrs. Olzendam relative to
Governor Clements intentions, and
nothing more than a deliberative at
tempt 10 further the election of Frank
w. Agan. candidate for governor, who
was called back to Vermont by Glen.
ent and whose campaign they said is
being partly financed by the pres
ent head Of the state.
The connection between the liquor
candidate Agan.' said Mrs. Olzendam
and Clement is clearly seen by read
ing this hitherto unpublished letter
from Agan TO me, 1t is nothing but
an echo Of Governor Clements pro-
clamation or rather the Governor s
proclamation is but an echo of the
opinion ventured by his henchman,
Agan" ..
Her Letter to MIR. Agan Follows.
I"Hon Frank W. Agan,
Ludlow, VT.
My Dear Mr. Agan:
'In view of the imminence of the
woman vote in Vermont, lin spite OF
Governor Clement persistent refusal
to heed the demands Of his party in
the state and nation to call a special
session of the legislature to ratify the
federal suffrage amendment), it seems
pertinent to address you in behalf
of the Suffragists and request you tc
add your voice to that of the major
Iity of Vermont Republicans who have
ALREADY spoken, and ask the Governor
to call the legislature together al
once. We would ask that you make
your request to him public or state tc
US the reasons for not complying with
our request should you see fit to re
fuse to act in the matter.
There is no halfway position fol-
amy candidate for Office to take OF
this question. The recent decision o
the United States Supreme Court tha
no referendum on federal Constitu
tional Amendments may be had IL
amy state, disposes of Governor Glenn
ents mistaken objection on tha
IgrounG.
Knowing your closeness to th,
governor, we hope that you will poin
out to him the necessity of immediat,
action in order that Vermont womel
may not be shamefully Disseminated
against in the coming election.
Awaiting your reply, and will
thanks for any courtesy you ma.
chosen extend to your women fel
low citizens, / am
Sincerely Yours,
Lillian II. Olzendam
Chairman of Ratification for VeI
mont"
Mr.. Agan's Reply Is as Follows.
June 30th, 1872
Mrs. Lillian Olzendam,
Burlington, Vt.
My Dear Madam
you will please pardon delay 4
answering your letter | have bee
away from home on campaign toul
do not think that anything coul
cav IN tbie ouaetino would in 1uppo