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EMLIE SAYERS.
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DR. V. SOMERVILLE
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DR. J. SOMERVILLE
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MYRA SIIMMONS.
Activities Among Negroes
The reader through this column a few weeks ago was given a short history of suffrage and the services rendered by that distinguished negro woman lecturer and writer, Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett, who traveled over the United States lecturing for votes for women. This article will deal with a short survey of the struggle for votes by California women. There is no more interesting history of that great struggle by any group of women in the United States than was made in the great state of California. While there had been pioneer newspaper women in San Francisco who worked for votes for women, the actual fight did not begin until 1895. They were so sincere the National American Women's Suffrage association was soon attracted to them.
California suffragists were visited and encouraged by such well known persons as Miss Susan B. Anthony, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt and Mrs. May (Mary) Wright Sewell, then president of the International Council of Women, who came to California to give a series of lectures on suffrage. While in California, such well known women as Mrs. William Keith, Miss Maud Younger, Mrs. Leland Stanford, Mrs. F. Athearn, Mrs. Caroline Severance, Mrs. James B. Hume, then president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs; Miss Blanche Morse, Miss Ethel Moore and Attorney Gail Laughlin aided, and statesmen, congressmen and even governors at different times lent their influence to the cause.
OPPOSITION OVERCOME.
Votes for women were opposed for many years by the largest and most influential daily papers. But by persistence the women finally won over the support of 18 daily papers which published everything sent them concerning suffrage.
It was not until 1911 that all parties in this field placed a suffrage plank in their platform. A special election to decide the fate of 23 constitutional amendments was held, and No. 8, the suffrage amendment won. It was during that campaign that the colored women of Alameda county decided that the issue was one that would affect all American citizens; and since they were eligible, they entered the campaign to help win. Strange to relate, all over the United States, except in California, colored women had been actively engaged in the struggle for more than 25 years. That was in a great measure due to the enthusiasm aroused by the lectures of Ida B. Wells Barnett. She came to California, and while the group was benefited, it did not catch the vision. But those who did were from pioneer families. Hence we find Miss Myra V. Simmons issuing the call in 1911. She is a direct descendant of a pioneer family of California. She was joined in her efforts by Mrs. Hettie B. Tilghman, Mrs. Willa Henry, Mrs. Melba Stafford, Mrs. Purnell, Mrs. Maggie Judge, Mrs. Tob Williams and Mrs. Emma Chandler.
LONG-AGO MEETINGS.
In a clipping from an old copy of the Oakland TRIBUNE, a history of suffrage among California colored women was found. It was written by Miss Myra Virginia Simmons. She said:
"On the evening of October 4 a suffrage meeting was held at Cooper A. M. E. Zion church, and was addressed by several prominent speakers. On the evening of October 9 another meeting was held under the auspices of the league at the North Oakland Baptist church; on October 10, 1911, the day of the election, on which the 23 amendments were proposed to the California people for adoption, the heart of nearly every woman citizen was centered on No. 8 amendment. A committee composed of three women of this league, Mrs. Louise Delittl, Mrs. Melba Stafford, headed by the precinct captain, Miss Myra V. Simmons, did picket duty at precinct five, ward, six. from 6 a. m. to 6 p. m. That was the only precinct in Alameda county, to the writers' knowledge, officially represented by women of the race. And it was given general recognition, by the press."
HISTORY OF STRUGGLE.
In the history of the suffrage struggle in California it states that "As soon as the result was certain, Mrs. Watson, state president; Mrs. Sperry and Miss Charlotta (Charlotte) Anita Whitney, representing northern California, and Mr. and Mrs. Braly. Mrs. Ringrose and Mrs. French, southern California, went to Louisville, Ky. to carry the report to the convention of the National American Women's Suffrage association, of which this state had 45 life members, more than any other except New York. Continuing, we read:
"The demand of the newly enfranchised women for guidance and knowledge was met at once by the College league, which reorganized in November, 1911."
Miss Myra Simmons, in her history of colored California suffrage league work, said: "After the election the Colored American Equal Suffrage league disbanded, there being considered no future necessity for identification under the title. At the same meeting a civic league was organized with temporary officers. In January, 1912, the women of the league voted that it would be more advantageous to affiliate with the State Civic league than to operate as an independent organization.
COMPLICATIONS ARISE.
Complications crept in at that time, as a civic organization had but recently been established by the dominant race in the community, and as the constitution of the California Civic league limited one civic center to operate within each town and city limits, this would have necessitated the colored organization becoming an auxiliary to the civic center. Conceding it to be more representative and less restrictive to have an independent center, the president of the organization applied to the board of directors of the state league requesting the privilege of an independent center which would entitle it to greater recognition for efforts towards success, advancement and a higher degree of equality. The argument was employed that this separation of centers between the races should not be a preventative under the constitution enactment from affiliating in harmony with each other. This privilege was granted by the board of the California Civic League and on February 27, 1912, the Colored American Center became permanently organized."
This civic center did fine historical work in its many years of existence. Miss Myra V. Simmons served for three years as its president and was followed by Mrs. Willa Henry, who served eight years.
The center merged into the California League of Women Voters when the state body of Civic Centers joined the National League of Women Voters in 1922. Mrs. Hettie B. Tilghman became the president of the Alameda County League of Colored Women Voters. The great civic work by the league is too well known to be repeated in this article. There was, however, a league of Colored Women Voters organized soon afterwards in San Francisco, which organization, at a later date, will be fully brought before the reading public. But the writer is especially anxious at this time to state that finally the colored women of Los Angeles have, through the encouragement afforded them by the state president of the California League of Women Voters, perfected an organization.
OFFICERS ELECTED
The call was issued early in March, 1926, by Mrs. Charlotte Bass, Miss Emile Lue Sayers, Miss Gertrude Chrisman and Mrs. W. H. Terry. Mrs. Charlotte Spear Bass was elected president. She has the distinction of being the first colored woman newspaper editor and publisher on the Pacific coast beginning about 15 years ago with a sheet little larger than could be folded and placed in an average envelope. She has developed it until she not only has the largest colored weekly paper west of Chicago, but owns her plant and even the building. She is a fine orator and splendidly educated. Dr. Vada Somerville, a graduate of the University of Southern California, as the first colored woman dentist on this coast, was elected first vice-president. She also is a director of the Junior Division of the N. A. A. C. P. for Los Angeles. Dr. John Somerville, her husband. also is a dentist. He, with five doctor friends, attended the first meeting when the league was organizing. It is acknowledged that because of an address delivered by him to the women, calling their attention to the value of the league's program in developing intelligent voters in the race, the league was finally organized.
HONOR GRADUATE,
Dr. Georgianna K. Offutt, another California honor graduate, was elected second vice-president. It was due to her enthusiasm, after attending a meeting of the Alameda County League of Colored Women Voters, that other women became interested in the project. Miss Emmlie Lue Sayers, elected secretary of the league, is a student in the University of Southern California, preparing for social service work. She is publicity chairman of the committee of management of the colored branch Y. W. C. A.; corresponding secretary of the Business Girls' club, and treasurer of the Colored Women's Council of Los Angeles, and has written short stories that have been published in eastern papers.
Mrs. Clara Hulbert, elected treasurer of the league, is a great musician and a public-spirited citizen. Miss Gertrude is a linguist and teacher. The race will look forward to this league wielding great influence in developing women of intelligence. The colored women of California are grateful to Mrs. Koons, state president, and congratulate her upon the crowning of her efforts to organize a Colored League of Women Voters in Los Angeles.
GEORGIANS PRAISED.
The writer has often made mention in this column of the splendid women connected with the League of Women Voters' organizations. And she has further stated that she believed they would be the direct means of solving the race problem. The public very recently was startled to read throughout the nation in the daily press that the Georgia League of Women Voters had gone on record through its official organ, "The Pilgrim," in denouncing the poor educational opportunities given Negroes in that state. It published figures purporting to prove that while the Negroes of Georgia had made great advancement it was not due to the public school system of the state. It was charged that public school funds had been diverted from Negro schools to those of the other race.
The writer has just received a letter from the historian of the National Association of Colored Women in which she states that Mrs. Margret Gaynor of Chicago attended as its delegate the recent convention of the National League of Women Voters in St. Louis. She closes her letter by adding, "We need more women to become members of the league. The ballot is the only weapon with which to fight our manifold wrongs. It a the precious boon of American citizenship that every woman should be taught to use intelligently."
