Mamie Shields Pyle correspondence, 1918-01

January 15th, 1918, Dr. Helen Peabody, 610-8th St. I. W., Washington, D. C.

My dear Dr. Peabody:--

I have received your two letters, which I was very glad to get.

According to your suggestion, I have already written to Miss Eva Bobinson and Mrs. Christenson, confirming their appointments. I think that I confirmed Mrs. Perisho's appointment, some months ago, but will do so again. I will also confirm Mrs. Zitletz's appointment. In regard to Mrs. Perisho's appointment as Liberty Loan Chairman, I supposed that she was not in the state, having gone away with her husband, but Mrs. Campbell assured me that ahe was still at Brookings. I think her appointment a very good one, providing she can take care of it. I have a letter this morning, from Miss Robinson, thanking me for the endorsement of her appointment and telling me that she had heard from you, also. She does not quite understand why she is linked up with our committee, because she was appointed by the government, although.she is very glad for the endorsement of our committee and feels that it enables her to realize that we are all working together, Mrs. Zitletz is already in the harness and doing extra good work, as chairman of registration, I especially insisted that she should be chairman of registration, rather than temporary chairman of the committee, as Mrs. Campbell wished to make her, I think, perhaps, this was before we had thought of making her a special chairman, I must tell you, frankly, that Mrs. Campbell and I did not agree at all, as to her appointment as temporary chairman of the committee.

I wish to say in this connection and in answer to your question, that while I value Mrs, Campbell's ability in this special line which she has been carrying out, I do not think it wise to appoint her on the defense committee. I have not the time to go into details, this morning, but wish to put you on guard, so that you will not take any steps toward such an appointment. She is now chairman of finance, as I understand it, and I believe will be very valuable in that position, as she is also state organizer. I believe, however, that this is as much responsibility as she should be given, because both of these committees place her very closely in

[1918, Jan. 15]

Dr. Peabody-2-

touch with the public, and will simply make her work ineffectual, if she is given more to do.

In regard to your own position on the committee, I an sure that you will not find the work so heavy with your chairmen at the head of each committee, I have been very much afraid that you would feel it a burden so heavy that you would wish to give it up, but please hold on for a time, at least, give me a chance to talk to you before you make a final decision,

I would very gladly confirm Mrs. Pidgeon, as chairman of Safe Guarding Moral and Spiritual Forces. I do this more especially because she has been recommended to me as a woman who is very much alive and well equipped to take hold of any kind of work. She responded very satisfactorily to Mrs. Campbell's plan of work in regard to the registration. I make this recommendation, as you can see, based upon other people's judgment, rather than my own, as I do not know her well.

Mrs. Reuman has agreed to take up the finance work to a certain extent for the suffrage organization and I do not know whether she would feel like taking up further responsibility. She is now arranging her Red Cross work so that some one else can take it over, while she takes up this special work.

You have asked me to make suggestions for chairman in these other departments, not named, and I am not able, this morning, to supply names, but I have your out-line here and will be just as wise as possible in filling it in and will send same to Mrs. Williams and ask for her opinion and will also forward same to Mrs. Campbell

I notice by the Argus-Leader that the Alexandria Herald is objecting to the registration, as being unnecessary and just, apparently, some thing to do, but we need a few men like this to make a movement grow.

I read, with a great deal of interest, your account of the hearings and your impression of same. Of course, long before this, we all know that the question carried in the House, although it was a close.call.

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Dr. Peabody:3

Several requests have come in for some material that covers the work of the Woman's Council, to be put in the hands cf the county chairmen. This is because so many questions are asked and the chairmen have rather a hazy idea of several requests. I think that we have no material, thus far, in South Dakota, that is adequate. Perhaps while you are in Washington, you can find some thing of this kind to send to Mrs. Zitletz, so that she can place it is the hands of the county chairmen

With best wishes, I am,

Sincerely,

STATE PUBLISHING CO, PIERRE, S.D.

State of South Dakota DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION

[engraving of South Dakota State Capitol building]

January 15th, 1918.

Chas. McCaffree Commissioner

Pierre,

Mrs. Alice M. prindle, Bridgewater, So. Dak.

My dear Mrs. Prindle:—

During my absence in New City City, in October, a card came from you asking for new suffrage material for the high school debating society. I am sorry that this was delayed past the time that it would be useful to the school, because of my absence and on account of rush and hurry, the answer to your card has been postponed until now.

We are getting ready now for our work and I have written in for catalogues of supplies and hope to have our shelves well filled, before long and thus be able to respond, when such requests as this come in. I am sorry for this delay.

Sincerely,

STATE PUBLISHING CO, PIERRE, S.D.

State of South Dakota DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION

[engraving of South Dakota State Capitol building]

January 15th, 1918.

Chas. McCAFFREE , COMMISSIONER

Pierre.

Miss Eva R Robinson, Vermillion, So. Dak.

My dear Miss Robinson:--

Your letter of January 12th., was received this morning and I note what you say in regard to your appointment,

I knew from Dr. Peabody's letter that you had been appointed by the government, but it seems that the Women's Committee of Council of Defense is expected to endorse all of these appointments; thereby uniting all of the efforts of women under one head, realizing that this does not lend any particular value to your special work, further-more than we recognize it as the official department of the State.

Sincerely,