Mamie Shields Pyle correspondence, 1918-01

January 15th, 1918.

Hon. C G. Sherwood, Clark So. Dak.

My dear Mr. Sherwood:—

Your letter to Mrs. Hipple, in answer to request for your approval of the federal suffrage amendment, has come into my hands to be placed on file, and I note what you say in regard to the picketing and I feel that I muet write you, at once, thanking you, first, for your support of the amendment, and, secondly, loosing no time in assuring you that your opinion of the women of Washington in regard to the picketing, is the opinion of all good suffragists, also.

The National Organization, of which we are a part, is very much opposed to the picketing, and has publically denounced such action. At the time it was oing on, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the president, appealed by letter and in person to the women to discontinue the same. This crowd of women who have been doing picketing, represent the Congressional Union, which is composed of women who were dissatisfied with the long and tiresome campaigns and the disappointments connected therewith, so they organized themselves into this body, known as the Congressional Union, and their tactics have been in direct opposition to any thing that the best womanhood of the land stand for in the suffrage work. I can not but believe, however, that they are sincere and we must give them credit for that, but their actions have been a source of a great deal of disappointment and chagrin.

As I have said, I felt that I couldn't have one whose opinion we value, believing that these unwise actions had been a part of the general suffrage movement.

Sincerely

January 15th, 1918.

Mrs. Gina Smith-Campbell, Dell Rapids, South Dakota.

My dear Mrs. Campbell:—

In answer to your letter of January 10th, would say that Mrs. Beach seems to be getting quite interested in her work. She came up to the office, one day last week, determined to get rid of the position and to argue me into thinking it was my special duty I lost no time in showing her that it would be very impossible for me to take it, and not wise either, and that she was the logical person, since she was chosen at that meeting. Before she left, she was quite interested in out-lining her campaign and has already begun getting her women. I told her that they could use our office, at any time, for their committee meetings and she seemed glad to avail herself of that opportunity. The main thing that was troubling her was that she had no definite material to put in the hands of her organizers and felt that she did not want to [b]egin until she had some thing. I advised her to get get women appointed and by that time, I was sure you would have some thing in her hands. I do now know whether you have material on hand, but if not, perhaps you can get some thing that will ans[w]er the doubts and questions in the minds of the many. I am writing to Dr. Peabody, to-day, and will ask her to try and get some of the best materials they have in Washington into your hands.

I noticed by the Argus-Leader, last evening, that the Alexandria Herald has been knocking the plan of registration. No doubt you also read it.

I have not yet written to Governor Norbeck, but am perfectly willing to do so and will get the letter out to-day. However, if he has not replied to Dr. Peabody, he perhaps will not to me.

I am very glad that Mrs. Zitletz is taking such good hold of her work, as I would expect her to do. I have been quite interested in noticing the publicity work you have been doing and it has been very effective, I am sure. Will be glad to hear from you at any time.

Sincsrely, Mrs. Pyle

WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL of NATIONAL DEFENSE SOUTH DAKOTA DIVISION MRS. K. ZETLITZ, Director of Registration

STATE OFFICERS: DR. HELEN S. PEABODY Chairman, Sioux Falls MRS. JOHN L. PYLE, Vice-Chairman Huron MRS. J. A. WILLIAMS, Treasurer Watertown MRS S. A. CHRISTENSON, Secretary Sioux Falls

STATE ORGANIZER MRS. GINA SMITH-CAMPBELL Dell Rapids FINANCE COMMITTEE MRS. GINA SMITH-CAMPBELL, Chairman MRS. GEORGE T. BLACKMAN, Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S. D., Jan. I7th, 1918

Mrs. John Pyle, Vice Chairman, W.C.C.N.D. Huron, S.D.

My dear Mrs. Pyle:

Would you be willing to write an article on "The benefit of Registration of Women as I saw it at Washington"? We need such an article for publication in this community. We would like to have this over your personel signature as Vice Chairman of the Woman Committee.

Dr. Helen S. Peabody, writes, that Washington Headquarters are patiently awaiting an account of the State organization of the South Dakota Division, and I have been receiving very insistent letters from the National Headquarters upon that subject. They think I have been very remiss in sending this information, but I have been unable to do so, as the confirmations for which Dr. Peabody has asked for have not all come in. We are still awaiting your confirmation of Mrs. Ellwood Perisho, Chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee.

The article which I have asked for from you, we would use as a state wide panphlet, and would you have it printed in such form as the enclosed, and have it sent to Headquarters for distribution. Do you think 3000 would be sufficient?

The citizens of Sioux Falls have most willingly responded to all request of the Woman's Committee, and have given us a very large comfortable room for State Headquarters. They ahve also donated all the furniture, etc.

[1918, Jan. 17]

WOMAN'S COMMITTEE COUNCIL of NATIONAL DEFENSE SOUTH DAKOTA DIVISION MRS. K. ZETLITZ, Director of Registration

STATE OFFICERS: DR. HELEN S. PEABODY Chairman, Sioux Falls MRS. JOHN L. PYLE, Vice-Chairman Huron MRS. J. A. WILLIAMS, Treasurer Watertown MRS S. A. CHRISTENSON, Secretary Sioux Falls

STATE ORGANIZER MRS. GINA SMITH-CAMPBELL Dell Rapids FINANCE COMMITTEE MRS. GINA SMITH-CAMPBELL, Chairman MRS. GEORGE T. BLACKMAN Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S. D.,

Mr. Anderson, Chairman of the S.D. Div. N. C of Defense has made us an allowance of $135.00 for office expenses. Mrs. Gina Smith Campbell of Dell Rapids, Chairman of Finance Committee has placed at our disposal $200. The account is with the Security National Bank of Sioux Falls. However the Finance Committee are not through with their work, and they have promised us more funds.

Sincerely yours, Mrs. S A Christenson State Sec'y.

[encl. 1918, Jan. 17]

WOMAN'S COMMITTEE

Council of National Defense

Why the Government asked to have it organized

Two years following the outbreak of the great world war, the Congress of the United States, in order to deal with the internal problems arising from war conditions, found it necessary to authorize a new governmental body. The Council of National Defense was thus created and comprised six of the members of the President's cabinet. This body had the power to appoint sub committees.

Our United States entered the war in April, 1917. The Council of National Defense realized: Without the help of all the women of the Union, this war will never be won. America should profit by England's tardy realization of the results to be gained from organization and coordination of efforts. There is no one National organization of women through which all the women of this vast country can be