Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31
ILLINOIS SOCIETY
IS ACTIVE BODY
Formed From Partisan Clubs
in 19O9-Has Distin-
guished Roster.
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.


When the citizens of Vice Presi'
dent Dawes adopted State get to-
gether there are lively times. This
happens monthly from November I'M
til March every year. There Is a
rousing singing of the State song
Illinois, after which comes an Ilumi-
mating chat on the glories of the com
monWealth by member of the con-
gressional delegation or some equally
distinguished son or daughter Of the
wheat belt, then dancing, cards and
refreshments.
The wood violet. the Illinois floral
emblem, is accentuated in the decora-
lions and on the official paper. All
OF which sounds very much like the
conventional program followed by all
the State societies in their local at
fairs, hut there is a difference.
These meetings are held at the
Washington Club. where so many OF
the state societies find a temporary
home. But when the local celebrities
from Illinois have their pow-wow a
room is set aside for the president,
Victor V. Martin, and there all
through the evening the members are
seen entering, bringing new members
and getting into conference on those
ambitious schemes which form the
undercurrent. which keeps the society
moving so briSkly.
Plan State Building.
For apart from the obvious social
mission of the State organization to
keep up the bond of unity among ma
rives of the State the Illinois Society
plans two things. both of prime impor-
tance-the one in the national sense.
the other as it concerns the develop
ment OF the National Capital.
OF the latter the Illinois body pro.
poses TO erect the first of that vast
aggregation of buildings which may
he seen from time to time on blue
prints, where each State shall float
her own flag. have an exhibit of her
wealth and Il place for her citizens to
convene and entertain visitors when
they come to the National Capital.
In the proper time and when cir
CumStances are ripe for such activ-
tiles, the local society proposes to ap-
preach the State Legislature for funds
for the building, the Congress Of the
United States having provided the site.
There are many level-headed business
men as we'll as statesmen who support
this ambitious idea, but so far the
Illinois State Society Is the only one
To take definite steps toward it's reali-
cation.
The absentee voters is the second
project, and the distinct hope Of the
Illinois State society IS to arouse
wider enthusiasm among those for
whom the privilege OF voting has been
made so easy. Hitherto they have
shown only languid interest. and
after every barrier against their send
ing their ballot by mail had been laid
low by appeal to the State LegisIa-
ture, after every effort had been made
To instruct the abSentees in the way
n or a
properly, very few took the trouble to
appear at the proper time and carry
those instructions into effect. This is
in fact, the experience OF nearly all
those devoted citizens who have been
working like yeomen for the absentee
voters.
Will Create Sentiment
But Illinois proposes to do some
thing about it. to create sentiment by
good talks on the suffrage and the
sacred obligation Of all who can vote
to do so.
The Illinois State Society as 1t Is to-
day, when it has welcomed into its
fold the most distinguished residents
of the State in Washington, the Vice
President and Mrs. Dawes. Is the
union of two societies or clubs. one
Republican. the other Democratic.
which thrived about 80 years ago.
They merged in 1909 and Herbert w.
Rutledge was chosen president and
served until 1923, when the present
head. Victor V. Martin, was elected.
Under Mr.. Rutledge's management the
body increased in membership and be-
gun to act in laison capacity be-
tween the State and its people in
Washington.
This aspect has been emphasized
under the direction of Mr.. Martin and
he has, from time to time, acted as
host to the rapidly growing society
IN his home The other officers are:
Jesse W. Tull. John G. Berkeley. who
are first and second vice presidents;
Ohio L. James, secretary, and Mrs.
Nora Graham Bailey. formerly It
patent attorney at Decatur, H.,
treasurer Mr.. Rutledge, who served
the society SO long as president, is
now historian.
Plan Annual Banquet.
No particular days have been OBJ
served by the Illinois organization,
but plans are afoot to have an an
nual banquet on Lincoln's birthday.
Prepare. ions began too late to be
perfected for the innovation this year.
There will be a reception later in
honor of the Vice President and Mrs
Dawes. though both expressed a
preference for dropping in at some
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