Fulton County Tribune (Wauseon), March 13, 1914

AN APPEAL FOR WORKERS

W. C. T. U. Solicits Aid in Finance and Influence for Coming Equal Suffrage Campaign-Through Organization Being Planned.

Do you know the is a Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in Wauseon? Are You a member? Do you know what it stands for? If not investigate, get in line, something doing.

We think sometimes the community in which the Womans Christian Temperance Union is laboring fails to see what it stands for in that community. It is classed as a bunch of temperance fanatics; that may be true to some extent, but it reaches out farther and broader and deeper than that. W. C. T. U. is interested in all moral reforms; its aim, votes for women, the W. C. T. U. want equal suffrage for the same reason that other organizations of women are asking for the ballot and for the added reason that they may strike the fatal blow to the liquor traffic. Our object, State-wide and Nation-wide prohibition. When the women get the ballot, they will vote for prohibition. It is the wives and sisters and mothers and they only, who will drive the nails into the coffin of John Barleycorn” – Jack London.

Womens Suffrage is now the live issue before the American people State of Ohio to vote again on equal suffrage amendment in November election, petitions to be filed in April Indications of awakened Interest - Success Predicted.

We are just starting in this campaign for suffrage and we are earnestly soliciting the aid of every good woman and man. Wauseon citizens are so generous to assist every good movement coming to town, now we are much in need of finance and influence to carry on this campaign. Won’t you help us?

Colorado on the firing line
Then forward Colorado!
Hurrah! Hurrah! We’ll all unite
To win the fight for God and Colorado! Unite and fight for
God and Colorado!
“Everybody’s singing it to the ringing tune of “Dixie” because its true.”

Because every denominational meeting in the state has come out for state wide prohibition this year. Because the forces of the Anti-Saloon League led by Rev. Arthur J. Finch, a clean, honest, brave and resourceful man, are marching with the W. C. T. U. as never before. Because the great Methodist, Bishop, McConnell is giving his time and wisdom to the initiatory conferences that mean so much and leading his fine body of preachers in that state into the thick of the fight.

The petitions to initiate the constitutional amendment are in charge of the W. C. T. U. and it goes without saying that our clear visioned, courageous president will see that the remotest hamlet speaks its need, under the dome of the capitol, for a clean state.

The Anti-Saloon League of the state has set itself the task of organizing the counties to the last votes and in view of that vast domain that will be a great achievement.”-Union Signal.

In 1914 the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) started a new a campaign for women’s suffrage. Everyone knew what the women of the WCTU would do if they were granted voting rights. 

The WCTU was founded in Cleveland in 1874 with the primary objective of combating the influence of liquor on society. It would prove influential in the temperance movement. The WCTU was inspired by the Woman’s Crusade, which was an anti-liquor effort conducted during the winter of 1873-1874. The WCTU eventually grew to become involved in more than the temperance movement, this included the suffrage movement. It became key organizing many leaders in the suffrage movement and getting more women involved in the fight for suffrage. The WCTU started a campaign for women’s suffrage in 1914 with the help of some outside the organization. 

One of these individuals was Rev. Arthur J. Finch, a member of the Anti-Saloon League. The Anti-Saloon League was one of the most powerful prohibitionist groups in the whole country and worked with many other organizations of the same goal. Another to help was American Methodist Bishop Francis John McConnell. McConnell was born in 1871 in Trinway, Ohio, and entered the Methodist ministry in 1894. After McConnell had served as pastor in churches in Massachusetts and New York, he became president of DePauw University in 1909. He was elected bishop in 1912 and worked for various reformations such as supporting the Report on the Steel Strike of 1919.

Fulton County Tribune (Wauseon), October 15, 1915

OHIO WOMAN SUFFRAGE PARTY CONVENTION

Call For Meeting to be Held in Cleveland Thursday and Friday, November Eleventh and Twelfth

Western Newspaper Union News Service.

     Cleveland.- Upon the invitation of the Woman Suffrage party of Greater Cleveland, the Ohio Woman Suffrage association will hold its 30th annual convention Thursday and Friday, Nov. 11 and 12, at Hotel Hollenden. The executive committee will be in session on the evening of the 10th, but the convention proper will begin at 10 a. m. on the 11th. At 1 p. m. a luncheon will be served to delegates, visitors and friends, the delegates being the guests of the Woman Suffrage party. Mrs. Ethel Snowden, the wife of the Liberal member of the English parliament, will be the only speaker at the luncheon. Mrs. Snowden is a brilliant, beautiful woman of great oratorieal powers. One hour on the 12th will be set aside in memory of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was born Nov. 12, 1815. and who was responsible largely for the calling of the first woman’s rights convention in 1848.

Ohio speakers and workers now in the campaign states will tell of their experiences.

All suffrage associations are urged to send delegates, and attention is called to the following articles of the bylaws, article 2. section 1: “Local dues paying societies may become auxiliary to the state association by paying into the treasury annually 25 cents for each of their paid-up members. Such local auxiliary societies shall be entitled to three delegates by virture of such auxiliaryship, and to one additional delegate for every 25 members. Section 2. Non-dues paying local societies, such as campaign committees, men’s leagues, woman suffrage parties, etc., may become auxiliary to the state association by the payment of a fee of $2 annually into the state treasury. Such auxiliaryship shall entitle such societies to two delegates in the state convention.” All delegates signifying their intention of attending the convention before Nov. 6 will be entertained by Cleveland people. Those wanting further particulars in regard to the convention generally should address Mrs. Upton, state headquarters. Warren, O. Those wanting information in regards to local matters address Mrs. Rufus P. Ranney, general local chairman convention committee, 1706 Euelid-av, Cleveland. The call is signed by Mrs. Francis M. Casement, Painesville; Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton, Warren; Miss Zara Dupont, Cleveland; Mrs. Dora Sandoe Bachman, Columbus; Mrs. Helen Wise Molony, Cincinnati; Mrs. Ethel R. Vorce, Cleveland; Mrs. Zell Hart Deming, Warren; Mrs. O. F. Davisson, Dayton.

 
The Fulton County Tribune was created in 1883, after sentiments divided for the local Republican Party. The newspaper typically covered local events and interests. 

In 1915, Cleveland held the 30th annual Ohio Woman Suffrage association convention after being invited by the Woman Suffrage party of Greater Cleveland, now called the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. The Ohio Woman Suffrage association was organized May of 1885 in Painesville with the goal of changing laws preventing women from voting. 

The guest lecturer mentioned to be speaking on the 11th was Mrs. Ethel Snowden. Snowden is the wife of Philip Snowden, a British Labour Party politician and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1924 and between 1929-1931. Ethel Snowden was active in the support of woman suffrage and later became a speaker for the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. 

An hour was set aside in the memory of Elizabeth Cady Stanton because she was a prominent supporter of woman suffrage who passed away in 1902. Harriet Taylor Upton and she was an important member of the National Women’s Suffrage Association, she even served as treasurer of the Association from 1894 to 1910. From 1899 to 1908 and from 1911 to 1920, Upton also served as the president of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association. 

Mrs. Rufus P. Ranney could be the wife or relative of Democratic Ohio politician, Rufus Putnam Ranney. Francis M. Casement was a suffragist from Painesville, Ohio, who has been inducted in the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame. Mrs. O. F. Davisson was the president of Dayton and Montgomery county Woman Suffrage Association. The remaining women were suffragist that helped organize and promote the cause for suffrage. 

Written by Katrina Neff, Class of 2022