Mamie Shields Pyle correspondence, 1918-01

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA VERMILLION

DEPARTMENT OF HOME ECONOMICS

Jan 12, 1918.

Mrs. John L, Pyle, Huron, S,.

My dear Mrs. Pyle:-

Thank you very much for your letter. Dr. Peabody wrote me the other day from Washington, but I am a little mystified in regard to what she considers my office is. I was appointed director of Home Economics for South Dakota last November or the early part of December. I do not know nor do not think that it had anything whatever to do with the Women's Council of National Defense. I supposed Miss Ward was chairman of the Food Conservation Committee. I am very glad indeed, whatever the situation is, to know that we are going to work together and thatthere will be co-operation in all the organizations. I feel that there is so much to do in the state, that it will take everybody wording together to accompolish even a little. It is possible that I will be in Huron a day next week and if I am, I shall try to see you. Thank you again for your letter,I am

Yours sincerely, Eva R. Robinson

ES

Woman's Committee Council of National Defense South Dakota State Division

Dell Rapids, Jan. 14, 1918

Madam Chairman:

Ian Hay, the English writer, in an article written to American women says: ''In the early days of the war our women's work, like men's, suffered from too much individual zeal and too little collective effort. There was overlapping, wastage and uneven distribution of both burden and benefit. The same thing happened in France. But with the hard experience of the older Allies as a guide, the women of America should have no difficulty in recognizing the need of organization and co-ordination of their noble efforts. This done American women can present a united front to the great and glorious task that lies before them.*'

In a recent letter on the organization of the So. Dak. Division of the Woman's Com. C. N. D., Mr. C. H. Anderson, State Chairman of the Council, said: "The united effort of the women of our state is necessary for the successful promotion of every war activity or relief measure that may be presented during the coming months. To this end it is highly essential that organization be perfected so that all effort be utilized to the best advantage. We, the Council, are confident that the ladies selected as county chairmen for the Woman's Committee will succeed in organizing their territories so completely that each unit will become a strong and effective force in the state. The Woman's Committee is now needed and should remain in existence until the conclusion of the war."

Mr. Anderson has asked for a report on the county organization of the Woman's Committee at the meeting of the State Council to be held in Sioux Falls, Jan. 22. Madam Chairman, have you sent in to me your reply as to number of towns and townships organized? If not, please answer so that I may have the complete report here at Dell Rapids, at the very latest, Monday Jan. 21st. The report of the counties could not be given to the press this week as planned. The Executive Committee of the Woman's Committee C. N. D. of our state consists of Dr. Helen S. Peabody, Chairman, Sioux Falls; Mrs. John Howard Pyle, Vice Chairman, Huron; Mrs. A. J. Williams, Treas., Watertown; Mrs. S. A. Christensen, Sec, Sioux Falls. The above have appointed Mrs. K. Zetlitz, of Sioux Falls, State Chairman of Registration. Mrs. Zetlitz is a woman of splendid personality, great ability and a tremendous worker. You will all like her I know. Registration State Headquarters are to be opened today in Sioux Falls, on the ground floor of the Elks' Building. Everybody is enthusiastic over the coming campaign.

A township chairman said to me yesterday: ''With three good assistants, it will not be difficult to register the women of my township.*' A County Chairman wrote: "We are so enthusiastic we can scarcely wait for the cards to come.*'

Ask your Publicity Chairman to send to State Headquarters incidents or stories regarding registration or the progress in your County, that may be used in State Press work.

Mrs. E. C. Perisho, of Brookings, appointed by Mrs. Wm. G. McAdoo as State Chairman of the Woman's Liberty Loan Committee, has asked me to enclose a greeting from her to the County Chairmen, and state that she plans to send them a letter in the near future. Mrs. Perisho is a member of the State Committee of the Woman's Committee.

This is my last letter as Organizer. My work from now on, on the Woman's Committee, will be as Chairman of the Finace Committee.

I have enjoyed meeting you. It has been a pleasure to work with you, and the splendid patriotic spirit shown in taking up the work of the Woman's Committee has been of great help to me.

In closing may I quote the lines of our State Chairman, Dr. Helen S. Peabody: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I will do." Fraternally yours, Mrs. [Judith?] Campbell State Organizer.

P. S.—(a) Be sure to state in your city paper that thru registration contributions local expenses are to be defrayed as well as railway fare of County Chairman to the State Meeting. We must have the State Meeting ! (b) One of the Sioux Falls society women gave $10 to the Registration Committee a few days ago. She said she had heeded the request of the Government and was raising hogs. The $10 represented some of her profits.

MEMBERS of COMMITTEES Miss Sara Ferguson Miss Clara Zocher Mrs. Gustave Stelzer Mrs. Frank Isenhuth Mrs. C. N. Danforth Mrs. Fred Sinkbeil. Jr. Mrs. Wm. Schmierer Mrs. F. M. Gardner Mrs. G. J. Leischner Mrs. T. J. Wilson Mrs. F. W. Schaefer Mrs. J. H. Statz Mrs.Fred Wright Miss Martha Isaak Mrs. John Weidenoach Mrs. J. C. Crockett

MRS. R. W. BAISCH, CHAIRMAN MRS. J. L. WALDNER, secretary MRS. W. H, SHAW, VICE CHAIRMAN MRS.G. J. WINTER, TREASURER

Parkston Woman Suffrage Campaign Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MRS. R. W. BAISCH MRS. JOHN SCHMIERER MRS. W.H.SHAW MRS. J. L. WALDNER MRS. E.R. DOERING MISS MAGRETHA STAMP MRS. G.C. WINTER MRS. A.J. BLEVINS

PARKSTON, SOUTH DAKOTA

Jan. 14-1918

Mrs. John L. Pyle Huron, S.D.

My dear Mrs Pyle: Inclosed find a check of twentyfive dollars ($25.00). The same to be credited to our county apportionment.

Sincerely yours Louise T. Winter Trea. Parkston, S.D.

January 15th, 1918.

Mrs. S, A. Chrlstenson, Sioux Falls, So. Dak.

My dear Mrs. Christenson: — I was very glad, to get your letter of January 10th., giving me an out-line of the work which you are doing. I received a very good letter from Dr. Peabody, on the 8th., and it is a great relief to her to know that she has good representatives in Sioux Falls, and I am sure that the wo[r]k is such that you will get much joy, if no remuneration, for your work and sacrifice

All moneys collected by Mrs. Campbell should be turned over to the treasurer, Mrs. J. A. Williams, of Waterton; thereby enablying our treasurer to keep the record of all money spent, no matter in what department and all money raised by Mrs. Campbell for this particular job of registration, should be set aside in a special fund for that purpose. Since you ask me, to tell you of the legal proceedure of the Executive Board in regard to the handling of funds, I am telling you how it seems to me, from a business stand-point. You can readily see that the Treasurer will, of necessity, be held accountable for the expenditure of funds. Mrs. Williams is a very business-like woman and I am sure will not delay any thing trusted to her care, but will attend to it at once.

I did give Mrs. Campbell my confirmation of Dr. Peabody's appointment of Mrs. Zitletz as chairman of registration, but not temporary chairman of the committee. I respect Mrs. Zitletz very highly and am sure that it is a joy to have her associated with you in this work.

In regard to the publicity work of the registration of woman, I hardly know what to offer, excepting that the county chairman should appoint-if not able to attend to it heraelf-a publicity woman. We have recognised the wondeful effect of the publicity work upon all lines of war work carried on this past year. Mrs. Campbell has shown herself quite capable along these lines and perhaps she will assist you to prepare some thing that could be used in every county in the state, by sending them directly to county chairmen and asking

[1918, Jan. 15]

Mrs. Christenson-2-

them to get same in their papers.

I think, if it were possible to get the money to get out some Council of Defense literature, rather than the food conservation literature, for your use, it would be very much more desirable.

I am not sure that this letter will be of much help to you, but perhaps you can get some ideas from it.

Sincerely