The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-19
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
WoAIRS VOTERS.

editor, The West VirgtnlanJ,-
J Some time ago there appeared ON
the front page OF the Fairmont
Times an article by IS. 3. M en-.
titled IA Sex War Imminent. z
The present writer thought there
was much In the article concern.
Ing certain wonen's organizations
thar was misleading and unfair,
So she wrote a letter to the
Times, expecting II to appear IN
the column Of Letters to the Edt,
tor" in which she mentioned
some of the facts in the case and
tried to correct some Of the i'm.
Epfessions given by rs. q, NJ
However, instead OF printing the
letter. as 1t was written, the editor
turned It over to IS. E. 81" who
selected such parts OF Il as Il
suited her purpose-or inolina-
tion-tto answer; and these isolat-
, ed portions, together with COM
ments thereon, were printed In
last Sundays Times. This pro.
cedure, OF course, entirely destroy
ed the eject Of the letter, since
some OF the isolated portions
meant nothing or were totally
misleading when separated from
their CONTEXT.
Recognizing the utility Of
writing further explanations TO
tho Times am taking the liber-
~ OF asking You 10 print a few
statements concerning the organi-
cations mentioned, hoping TINT
some Of those who have read the
articles by S. E. NJ. may perehance
see these lines.
One Of the misleading state
ments In tho original article oc-
Cured in a paragraph In which
the author spoke OF the Woman's
Party the. League Of Women
Voters, and 'all such organiza-
tions," as II they were practically
one aud the same thing. In order
to try TO correct that impression
/ gave brtof history Of the origin
OF the two movements 10 show
that they are not only entirely
Separate aud distinct with q diff
farent history and different aims
and methods but are even In
some respects antagonlstic to each
other. My paragraph concerning
the Woman's Party upon whose
activities s. e. N. evidently bases
her prophecy Of a sex war; was
printed at the head OF the HGood
Morning" column Sunday but the
one concerning the origin, aims,
and methods hut are even in
Women Voters was entirely
committed.
The National League was or
gan!2ed two years ago during the
last meeting OF tne National Sut-
frSge Association. at that time
II was evident that the Nineteenth
Amendment would soon be adopt
ed and those states that already
had woman suffrage by state &C.
ton formed the new organization.
After the adoption Of the amend.
ment the remaining states or.
ganized and entered the National
League, which Is now represented
by an organization In every state
in the Union. The first conven-
ton Of the completed national or
lganization was, held in Cleveland
in the spring of 1921; and the
second in Baltimore last spring
was attended by more than one
thousand delegates from all parts
OF the country.
The leaders OF this new move
ment felt that It was needed for
two reasons. First, the idea of
taking part In their own govern
ment was. SO new to most women
that they felt the. need OF educa-
ton along that line. Secondly,
there are certain aspects and prob
lens Of legislation that are OF
peculiar interest TO women and It
was felt that an organization such
as this was needed TO focus the
attention OF the public in general
land the lawmakers In particu-
lar) upon those problems.
The league differs materially
IRON inc WOmanb Farty In many
ways. one Of them being In their
attitude toward the political par
Ties, The leaders OF tho league
urge IT'S members to Join one OF
these parties and to work therein
with the men so far as they may
be permitted to do SO. They be-
lIeve that III the course Of time
they may be able to exert consid-
cradle influence In the parties, as,
indeed, they are already doing in
many states, where they have
been cordially welcomed by the
best elements among the men Of
both parties. (See article in
September Ladies Home Journal
by Clifford Pinchot).
The Woman's Party believes
with S. E. Nj that mot a man
anywhere wants them" in the old
parties, Quotation from S. Z. NJ. }
SO they have organized one OF
their own-whicb is the logical
outcome OF such q belief.
S. e. NJ. further states that the
League OF Women Voters Is very