The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-02-19
MRS JAMES A. MEREDITH, OF
FAnMoNT, DELIVERED AD-
DRESS ON "oUR lew
CITIZENSHIP"
women Are Setting Standard Of Future
Political Status-Must Ac-
cept Responsibilities.

4 comprehensive outline OF tho new
responsibilities. opportunities and du'
ties OF the new citizenship conferred or
The women of the United States by tho
ratification of the Nineteenth amendment
was eloqucrfly and thoroughly present
cd to the members of the Womcn's Club
by Mrs. James 4. Meredith. of Fair
mont. in her splendid address. "Our
New Citizenship delivered yesterday
afternoon at the meeting Of the Civic
club at the 4. Q. L. w. hall. Mrs. Mere
dith is very we'll known in Wheeling, be-
ing second vice president Of the State
Federation of Woman'S Clubs. She Is
recognized as one of the foremost speak
crs and civic workers of the state, and
has been prominently ideutiied with
club activities. civic improvements and
diversified war work for several years
She has Il magnetic and very pleasing
personality, and is undoubtedly one oil
the most accomplished women speakers
10 address the club women for some
time. Although there was 4 fair-SiGed
audience present. il Is certainly TO b.
regretted that more club women did not
avail themselves Of the opportunity e
hear the address and the remarkably
intelligent discussion that followed IT,
day, presided and introduced Mrs. Mere
dith in her usual charming manner.
We arc living today in a strenuous
age. an epoch making age. the history
Of which will be written carefully and
searched by the future generation for
our personal achievements. This period
will stand out as a landmark and Will
be dated from the World War" de-
Clarcd Mrs. Meredith. 'Momentous
questions are now TO be decided by
women. and the work accomplished now
will affect the children generations
hence. We are setting the standard for
women in politics. We would have
been overwhelmed if we had known
what was coming with the world war
and would have wondered where We
could find time to do the work. But
as each new duty and obligation pre-
scented itself it was speedily done, and
n review of war activities will show
that the greatest part was done by the
club women Of the country.
When the armiStc was signed we
anticipated a per iod of rest, but then
came the right 10 vote, and women
were deluSed with. literature. The eyes
of the world were on the women. and
the predominating thought was-what
are we going to do" After ALL We were
confronted with the same old set OF du'
ties and obligations that we have had
for years. but with the responsibility
VIC had a new power to accomplish that
We had never had before. In our de-
mands We could 80 so far. then run into
a blank wall and. must stop. We were
trampling on some ones political aspir-
ations. Now when approaching tho
blank wall il Crumblcs away. slowly but
surely. because the power of the woman
voter is recognized"
Mrs. Meredith recounted some OF the
difficulties encountered when she was
state chairman of the civic department
of the Fedora ton and compared the re-
suits then with those of today.
Moving picture problem is one of our
greatest problems and must be solved by
the women. Pi2tures are one OF the
greatest educational factors in the world
to-day. They are equal to our public
schools in their ability to educate, but
there are two ways to educatc-up and
down. 4 motion picture leaves a last
ing imprcSsio ion that 4 story. told or writ
ten cannot make. Are they educat ton
up or down? That Is TO decide. The
picture producers are expecting some
thing from women and the women should
see that they get it,
Mrs. Meredith here illustrated the ef-
feet pictures have on an audience. She
said that the sex appeal in most of them
was hurtrul TO the young girls who make
up great percentage of the audience.
Their prime purpose is TO attract men
and the impression OF L beautiful vulup-
tous woman who gains what she may
desire through her sex appeal unCon-
sciously becomes the ideal Of the girls.
Boys arc also greatly impressed and
when temptation comes, fall more easily.