Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-04
Address on "Women in Public A.
fairs"

All ADDRESS Whlcn was listened to
most attentively and was greatly ap-
preciated by the assessors in convcn-
ton was that given by Mrs. Octavia
NJ. Gratfte. chairman of the Board
of Assessors for Dennstown Plan
tation. whose subject was Women
in Public Affairs Mrs. Graffte.
who was the only woman. having a
part on the convention program,
was especially we'll qualified, having
had no little experience in public
affairs, and presented her subject in
very interesting manner.
She stated that her first work in
public began as that of a school
teacher over 80 years ago, and that
at the present time she is following
that occupation. She has been as
sistant town clerk and treasurer for
IS years and at various times has
held the Office of superintendent Of
schools and superintending school
committee. At the last annual town
meeting she Was elected first as
SCISSOR and when she met the state
assessors there last June, she was
assessor whom they had officially
met. She was also very active in
the various campaigns in the World
War. At the present time She is
chairman OF the womcn's division of
the Republican committee.
The public school is where the
training of the nations future citi-
2ens begins. she stated, and it is in
this line of public work that the
result of Women's work should he
of tho strongest kind. What kind
of citizens does our country want,
the good citizen Or the citizen who
IS not so good ?" she asked. The
great danger to our nation now is
that we have too many citizens who
are not so good" She urged that
the young Americans be taught that
our country as well as our flag
stands for liberty. justice and truth
And she stated that she is n firm
believer that religion of some de-
nomination or form should lie
taught in the public schools. for re-
ligion is the safety Of the nation
and when it is gone that nation
crumbles. Without religion We build
only to destroy.
1T took the tragic World War to
bring US women of America our
greatest opportunities, War had
only started when the country real
lied the great need Of it's women
for an extremely definite and i'm
portant part in the gigantic task
that was thrust upon It. Our Init
cd States went on record as the first
country in the world to give official
recognition to woman"
Mrs. Grafftc ther. described at
some length the great work that
women did during the war in Red
Cross work in the various cam
paigns, and in purchasing Liberty
bonds.
She then referred to the fact that
when n woman married an alien, she
loses her citizenship. no matter if
she continues to reside in the coun-
try Of her birth. The moment she
assumes the name of man OF for
eign birth she loses her hard-won
right to vote. In some states she
loses her right to teach the public
schools and in various states GER
tain privileges of an American citi-
zen are taken from her. rs this fair
that a woman's citizenship should
thus depend on her husband?" she
asked. rs it reasonable that she
should endure taxation without rep
in her own country?
That is contrary to our constitu-
ton. Some may suggest that her
husband become naturalized and
that will naturalize her. She is al