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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0089 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0089 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
| MARYLAND SUFFRAGE NEWS SUFFRAGISTS BID FAREWELL TO MISS TRAX BALTIMORE suffragists assembled at the Hotel Emerson on Thurs- day afternoon at 4 o'clock to bid farewell to Miss Lola C. Trax, State organizer of the Just Government League, who leaves Baltimore this morning for Alabama, where she will organize for the National Amer- ican Woman Suffrage Association. Much good-humored raillery was expressed at the notice in the Evening Sun of March 29, telling of the reception in Miss Trax's honor and stating that she was leaving the .lust Government League to organize for the National Association Op- posed to Suffrage. Mrs. John M. Heard made the formal speech of farewell, and pre- sented Miss Trax with two tokens of regard from the Just Government League, a laurel wreath pin of old gold surrounding an amethyst, rep- rcspenting the colors of the League, and a ring made from a seal of the Congressional Union. Miss Trax, in accepting the gifts, told of her deep feeling for the League for which she had organized for the past five years, and of her appreciation of the co-operation shown her by the members of the League. Refreshments were served after the speeches, and an interesting musical program was one of the pleasing features of the reception. THE J. G. L. ANNUAL MEETING At a meeting of the Washington County Just Government League, held March 22 at the home of Mrs. I*. M. Wrenshall in Hagerstown, arrangements were made for a joint debate on "Woman Suffrage" in the Town Hall at Smithsburg on April 7. It is hoped that Mrs. Jesse Hardy MacKaye of Washington, D. C, will be present to uphold the right of women to vote, and the negative will be defended by three members of the Smithsburg Booster Club. Announcement that the annual State Convention would be held in 1 lagerstown April t6 and 27 was made by Mrs. Wrenshall, who urged everyone present to assist in making the meeting a success. The presidents of the county leagues affiliated with the Just Govern- ment League arc urged to have the delegates from their leagues appointed to the annual convention and their names and addresses sent into head- quarters at once, in order that credentials may be issued. The dele- gates from Baltimore city will be appointed through the chairmen of the four legislative districts. In arranging for the holding of the annual meeting in Hagerstown, the Just Government League feels that it will strengthen the work of organization in Washington and the nearby counties, and will afford the delegates from other parts of the State an opportunity to meet one an- other and discuss plans, etc. At present the plans for the meeting are somewhat tentative, but by next week it is hoped that the arrangements will be complete enough to allow their publication. J. G. L. VICE-PRESIDENCY FILLED With Miss Trax's departure from the ranks of the Just Government League, an important vacancy in the |«rsonncl of the Executive Com- mittee of the League occurred, for Miss Trax was second vice-president. At the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mrs. Robert Moss of Annapolis was appointed to fill the vacancy, and in its choice the league feels that it has made a splendid selection. Mrs. Moss' work as chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Woman Suffrage Party is too well known to bear repetition here. Her organization of the suffrage forces of Anne Arundel county have shown her as possessing unusual executive ability, and her ability to make and keep good friends for suffrage has made her one of the most important figures in the suffrage movement in the State. The Just Government League feels keenly its debt of gratitude to Mrs. Moss for all that she has done for it, and looks forward eagerly to the added inspiration will gain from her presence on the board. EVENTS OF THE WEEK MONDAY, APRIL 8 Regular Meeting of the Anne A- undel County J. C. L. at Annapolis at 3 p. m. TUESDAY, APRIL 4 Suffrage Knitting Class at SIT N. Chariot St. at II a. m. Meeting of the J. C. L. Executive Committee at 817 N. Charles Street at 2.30 p. m. THURSDAY, APRIL 6 Meeting of the Congressional Union of Maryland at 817 N- Charles Street at 3.00 p. m. SATURDAY, APRIL 8 Departure of Mrs. Townsend Scott, Maryland Envoy to the women of the Enfrancht ed Slates, for Washington, D. C, from which place the start on the Suffrage Special will be made. THE J. G. L. OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY THE Executive Committee of the Just Government League of Mont- gomery County held its regular monthly meeting in the Women's Clubroom at Rockville Tuesday afternoon, March ¦!, Miss Mary O'Toole, attorney, of the Washington Bar, addressed the council on "The Laws of Maryland as Affecting Women and Children." Her talk was most interesting and instructive, and should have been heard by every woman in the country, as the law as it now stands would work injustice to any mother or inheritrix of property appealing to it. Miss O'Toole said, in part: "The child guardianship law should be amended so that there would be no question that the mother had equal rights with the father as to the custody of her child. As the law now stands, the common law of England would prevail and give the custody of the child to the father, in spite of Section 148, which is erroneously supposed to amend the old law. "The child-labor law should be amended to limit the hours a child should be employed. In counties where a child-labor law is most needed industries using it to their own advantage have had influence enough with each Assembly to have their counties exempted. "The law in respect to married women's property should be amended so that a woman should have the right to will her own property to whom she pleases without consent of her husband, as he can will his without her consent. "In respect to inheritance, the law should be amended so that the father and mother may inherit equally from their child. At present the father inherits; if he is dead, the mother. "The law in respect to the 'age of consent' should be so tightened up that more than slight proof will be necessary to show that the girl was of loose character. If the man can prove that, he goes scot-free; so, of course, he tries to prove it. "Maryland should live up to its proud distinction of being the first Commonwealth to proclaim religious freedom, and to being the home of the first suffragist, Mistress Margaret Brent. Eleven States have already conferred political freedom, as well as religious freedom, on their women residents, and Maryland should not delay. If women held the ballot in Maryland, the unjust laws referred to would soon be amended, and much other reform legislation promptly attended to, as has been done in the equal suffrage States. Of course, 'old-time' politicians, otherwise graft- ers, make a great hue and cry over the evils that woudd (in their biased opinion) follow equal suffrage. Their real objection is their fear that women would not tolerate graft and corruption in the government of their own home State once they began to think—and vote." A resolution was adopted that the secretary of the league should write a letter of thanks to State Senator Eugene Jones for his vote in favor of submitting the equal suffrage bill to the people of the State; that letters of regret should be written to Representatives Laird, Gardner and Waters that they should have voted against the bill. E. H. C. Mottoa t*. fckrrUaa *¦»««. N.« Wk« PalraaUaf Oar Ad..,tU.n. |