Evening star., 1945-04-14
Mrs. Virginia Spee|,
Noted COP Figure,
Dies al Home al 8
from YESTERDAYS Last Edition. }

Mrs. virginia White Speel, VINO
was widely known in Republican
party circles and served as Repub-
lican national committeewoman
for the District for 16 years, died
today at her home, 1916 New
Hampshire avenue NV. She would
have been "a years old in July.
Daughter of a member of Con-
gress, Mrs. Speel had been i'll since
last September when she suffered
stroke. Miss Lena Hitchcock, one
of her daughters, was with her when
she died.
Funeral services for Mrs. Speel
will be held at IL am. Monday at
Epiphany Church, 1917 G street
NV. Burial will be in Indiana, Pa,
where Mrs. Speel was born on July
%, 1861.
Until her last serious illness, Mrs.
Speel, despite failing health, was
active in Republican politics. She
grew up in an atmosphere of Re-
publican party affairs.
Went on Campaigns.
When she was only 8, she began
accompanying her father, the late
Representative Harry White, on his
campaign trips. Father and daugh-
ter rode on horseback through the
mountain trails of Western Penn
sylvania, carrying his appeal for
votes directly to the wilderness
cabins of their constituents.
This close association with her
fathers affairs continued through
out his life. Mrs. Speel was es-
pecially proud of the fact that her
father, Civil War officer, was the
last man to be commissioned a
brigadier general by President Lin
coin, who signed the papers the
day before he was aSsassinated.
She also cherished the honorary
colonelcy, which she received when
she was IA, and which was signed
by Gen. William Tecumseh Sher-
man, Gen. Ambrose R. Burnside
William Mckinley and others who
served under her father when he
headed congressional committee
to reorganize the Army during the
70s.
On Constitution Committee.
During this period, Gen. White
also served as chairman of a COM
mittee charged with rewriting the
Pennsylvania State Constitution.
Mrs. Speel spent much of her early
life in Washington while her father
was serving in Congress. They made
their home at the Old Ebbitt House |
In June, 1884, she was married to
Harry Aretus Hitchcock, a mining
engineer. They had three children,
one of whom, a son, died in his |
childhood. Mr.. Hitchcock lost his
life in an accident in 1893.
Twelve years later, she married
Rear Admiral John Ninninger
Speel, and the couple came to Wash
ington to make their home with Mrs.
Spells two daughters in 1907. Ad-
miral Speel was paymaster for this
naval area at the time. He died in
June, 1888.
Organized Club.
During the campaign of Charles |
Evans Hughes for the presidency
against President Wilson in 1916,
Mrs. Speel organized the Women's
National Republican Club, rechrist-
ened in 1920 the League of Repub-
lican Women. She served several
terms as it's president and at the
time of her death was honorary
president.
From 1928, until she retired last
May. she was Republican national
committeewoman for the District
AS tribute to her lifelong devotion
to the ideals of the party, the Dis
trict Republican Committee Gre
ated the Office of honorary vice
chairman for life for her at the time
of her retirement.
She was also president of the Dis
trict Federation of Women's Clubs
for two terms and was a member of
the Daughters of the American Rev.
olution, the Danes of the Loyal Le-
gion and the Twentieth Century
Club.
Often Guest at White House.
Mrs. Speel was a close friend of
nearly every prominent American
statesman during her lifetime.
During the presidencies of William
Mckinley and Chester Arthur she
was often guest at the White
House. She was a member of the
committees which planned the in