Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-04
LOCAL LEAGUE 0 F
WOMEN VOTERS FORMED
Succeeds Equal Franchise
League and Is One of Many
Similar Organization
Throughout the State-Plans
for Shaw Memorial

Friday evening a large number of the
members of the Equal Franchise League
met in the parlors of the Hotel Sherwood
to take action on dissolving the suffrage
organization in regard to forming n
local League of Women Voters, to be
AFFILIATED with the state league OF which
Mrs. Lillian II. Olzendam is chairman.
Mrs. Clarence r. White, vice-president
OF the Suffrage League, presided at the
meeting, In the absence Of the president.
The secretary, Mrs. II. w. Blackburn.
read that portion of the minutes of the
meeting held in st. Adams in July. per-
tanning to the organization OF a Ver-
mont League of Women Voters 1t was
voted to dissolve the Equal Franchise
League and also to form a local League
of Women Voters. The following NOM
mating committee was appointed: Mrs.
II. w. Blackburn, chairman, Mrs. w. >.
Henderson and Mrs. H. ]. Daigle. This
committee was instructed to assemble a
slate of officers and report at a meeting
to be called within two weeks, when
the officers will be elected and the or
ganizatlon completed.
Mrs. Harry b. Shaw addressed the
meeting on the proposed Anna Howard
Shaw Memorial, which Ia to take the form
Of two college endowments; one, a chair
Of political science az Bryn Mawr Col
lege, and the other chair Of preventive
medicine at the Woman's Medical Col
lego in Philadelphia The sum to be
raised in the United Stafes Is 100000 and
the share allotted to Vermont is $1,000.
Mrs. Shaw appealed to the women not to
forget that large part of their present
victory was due to DR.. Shaw's untiring
efforts in their behalf, efforts that covered
| over fifty years of her life, and asked
every one to help in raising the Vermont
| share of the fund. Mrs Shaw said that
one rlan was to have women at all the
polling places on election day to collect
money for this purpose, and she hoped
that every one would go to the polls on
| that day prepared to contribute to the
memorial for the woman who did so much
to make 1t possible for them to vote.
Mrs. Olzendam then gave brief ad
dress on the object and aims of the
League of Women Voters. She told OF
the scope of the national work, and OF
| the important and improved Legislation
| that was to come before Congress mex
! session, in which every woman voter was
concerned and which should interest ant
enlist them in working for its success
! She emphasized the need of a eLague Of
Women Voters, and spoke of the weigh
I and influence of combined effort, team
work and organization. Women II
| politics. said Mrs. Olzendam, make
politics a mutual benefit association. The
! men need the women and vice-versa. Thu
ballot Is the symbol of service. 1t Is thu
emblem of citizenship. and I hope tina
every woman will so use her vote that 1
1 will mean a voice raised in support o
the greatest good to the greatest numbe
in every possible way" The local league
that are being formed in many of thu
towns and cities in Vermont are indicative
of the spirit of cooperation NANTES
among the new voters. and the interes
being shown is most gratifying, sad tn
speaker. The chairman also announced
that the director for Chittenden count
had been chosen by the executive boar
Of the Vermont league, and that Mis-
Margaret Darling of Burlington wa
director for this county. Mrs. H. b. SHAY
is one of the directors at large.