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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0090 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
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Maryland State Archives Maryland Suffrage News Collection MSA SC 3286 msa_sc3286_scm7805-0090 Enlarge and print image (1M) |
| 4 MARYLAND SUFFRAGE NEWS THE JUST GOVERNMENT LEAGUE OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY By Mrs. Robert Moss, President of the League. JUST four years ago, at the close of the session of 1012, the Just Gov- ernment League of Anne Arundel county was organized. The legisla- tive work of the suffrage advocates of Maryland was in the hands of Mrs. Keiba Thclin Foster Reed, State Organizer of the Just Government League, who had been placed in charge of the suffrage headquarters established in Annapolis, and it was through the Saturday evening meetings held at these headquarters that many Annapolis women became converts to the cause, and afterwards the officers of the Anne Arundel County League. From 12 charter members the league has grown to a membership of about 400 active and enrolled members. At first our weekly meetings were held at the homes of the members, but at the end of the second year headquarters were rented in the Adver- tiser Republican lluilding, which have gradually been fitted up and made quite comfortable. It has been a privilege to the women of our county to take their place and part in the work which is being done for women's advancement and development in the State, and to broaden and develop themselves by this process. During the next two years it will be the aim of the Just Government League of Anne Arundel county to reach every man and women within the confines of the county and present the question of equal suffrage squarely to them for the pur|x>sc of enrolling them on the side of right and justice. At the moment our activities are confined to pushing the following bill, introduced in the Senate by Dr. Gordon Claude, former Mayor of Annapolis, which, if passed, will enfranchise the women of Annapolis on equal terms with men. The bill is as followe: An ACT to repeal and re-enact Chapter 525 of the Acts of 1908, and Chapter 270 of the Acts of 1910, entitled "An Act to repeal and re- enact with amendments Sections 1 and 3 of Chapter 525 of the Acts of 1908." entitled "An Act to fix the qualification of voters at muni- cipal elections in the city of Annapolis and to provide for the registra- tion of said voters." Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That Chapter 525 of the Acts of 1908, entitled "An Act to fix the qualifi- cation of voters at municipal elections in the city of Annapolis, and to provide for registration of said voters," and Chapter 270 of the Acts of 1910, entitled "An Act to rejwal and re-enact with amendments Sections 1 and 3 of said Chapter 525 of the Acts of 1908," be and the same arc hereby repealed and re-enacted so as to read as follows: Sec. 2. The Supervisors of Elections of Anne Arundel County, be, and they are hereby authorized and directed during the month of May, in the year 1917, and in the same month every two years thereafter, to appoint two Registers for the City of Annapolis for each Ward of said City, one from each of the two leading political parties of the State, and they shall hold office for the term of two years, or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. Said Registers shall take the usual oath of office before the Supervisors of Elections. Sec. 3. The Registers for each ward of the City of Annapolis shall open said registration books at the usual places in each of the wards on the first Monday and Tuesday in June in the year 10,17. The Registers shall sit from 8 A. M. until 7 P. M. for the purpose of registering new voters, and the correction of said books of registration prior to the bien- nial municipal election, in said city, in the month of July. Sec. 4. The Registers of Voters shall, at said registration, register all persons who possess the following qualifications: First, all persons who possess the qualifications to vote, in the City of Annapolis, for mem- bers of the General Assembly. Second, all persons assessed, on the city tax books, for not less than five hundred dollars, and all persons who M»t». tk. MmrrUmi StOTrat* N.w. have an individual interest of not less than five hundred dollars, in prop- erty jointly owned, and who possess, excepting only sex, all other qualifi- cations required of citizens entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly in the City of Annapolis. Sec. 5. Any person desiring to register under the provisions of Sec- tion 4 (Second) of this Act may apply to the Clerk of the Corporation of the City of Annapolis for a certificate, and it shall be the duty of the said Clerk to furnish the same, stating whether or not the applicant is assessed for at least five hundred dollars, or has a vested interest in prop- erty of at least five hundred dollars, as may appear on the assessment books of the city, and the said certificate shall be submitted to the City Treasurer, and if found correct shall be countersigned by him and re- turned to the said Clerk, who shall affix the seal of the city. And the said certificate shall be accepted by the Register of Voters as prima facie evidence of the right of the party in whose name the certificate is drawn to register under Section 4 (Second) of this Act, and if possessing the other requisite qualifications of citizens of Annapolis to vote for members of the General Assembly, excepting only sex, the applicant shall be regis- tered and shall be entitled to vote at all future municipal elections. Sec. 6. Said books of registration shall at the close of each registra- tion be turned over to the Supervisors of Elections for safekeeping and shall be delivered to the Judges of municipal elections in the City of Annapolis for the purpose of holding municipal elections therein and shall be the only books of registration for municipal elections in said city. Sec. 7. The cost of said registration shall be paid by the City of Annapolis. Sec 8. Any register of voters under the provisions of this Act who shall knowingly violate the provisions of this Act shall lie guilty of a mis- demeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in the Gen- eral Laws of the State relating to registration. Sec. 9. Any Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. ACTION OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NO SETBACK THE failure of the House Judiciary Committee on March 28 to re- port out the suffrage resolution, while very disappointing, was not entirely unexjweted. Mrs. Frank M. Roessining, chairman of the Congressional Committee of the N. A. VV. S. A., in commenting on the action of the House Judiciary Committee, said: "The National Associa- tion has realized that considerations outside the question of suffrage might become a factor in today's vote, and the result has shown that this was true. "The vote is in no sense to be construed as hostile to suffrage. It was not confined to that alone, but to all constitutional amendments pending before the committee. They were of such a grave and important nature, involving as they did changes in the Constitution that in view of the legislative situation it was concluded to postpone all action. "The vote has emphasized to the leaders of the National Association that more than ever suffragists should work for a suffrage plank in the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties at the coming na- tional conventions. Although we shall overlook no opportunity to get the suffrage resolution rc|iorted out of committee, the activities of the Na- tional Association to get planks in the national platforms will be re- doubled. "Instructions have already been issued to our workers throughout the United States that from now until the June conventions no stone shall be left unturned to secure the adoption of an equal suffrage plank in the two platforms." Wk.. PatraaUat Our AaWtiMn. |