During the 1920's -------

After the passage of the 19^th Amendment and its ratification by all the states, the League of Women Voters was founded in February, 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt with the question, "Now you have the vote, what are you going to do with it?"

Twenty million women were now enfranchised and the League set about educating women about issues, voting responsibilities, and how to vote.

The National League of Women Voters, as a multi-issue organization, adopted 69 action items ranging from support for United States participation in a League of Nations to legislation to limit child labor and protection for women in industrial jobs. League leaders thought they would pass all the legislation and train all the voters in the next five years, and would then disband. (Although progress was made, and continues to be made, eighty years later we continue to work on many of the same issues!)

The new National League of Women Voters declared itself non-partisan. (For several years, the Dayton League of Women Voters endorsed some political candidates). Study groups were set up. The concept of study and general agreement (consensus) before action continues to be an integral part of the League.

Local history in the 1920s

The Dayton League of Women Voters was organized in May 1920. NCR founder, John H. Patterson stated that the hope of political regeneration in this country lay in the work of the League of Women Voters. He and Charles Kettering, Colonel Deeds, and David Rike all supported the League financially.

A flurry of activity evolved as the League conducted classes to study the city charter; ran a three-day citizenship school; produced educational leaflets, gave talks on civic matters, brought "many fine speakers" to Dayton, and stood for the city manager type of local government.

"The Dayton Woman Citizens," the League’s monthly newsletter, was first published in 1922 with articles about the League’s work and about city government in Dayton. It cost 2 cents per copy, or 25 cents for a year and postage was 1 ½ cents. For primaries and General Elections, questionnaires were sent to the candidates and their answers published in the newsletter. During the first few years, some candidates ads were carried. There were also ads from local businesses - as many as 39 some months - to make the publication self-supporting.

"The local organization not only teaches citizenship and works for good laws, but also often takes part in local politics because they are interested in securing good public officials, regardless of party affiliation."

Activities were varied. Members were successful in keeping the names of Ohio judges off the party ballot. They sent telegrams to Washington, D.C. at the opening of the Conference on Limitation of Armaments asking for "real accomplishments and full publicity." They were pleased that the Juvenile Court was established. The local League also worked with the Ohio Women’s Federation for Social Health.

Always interested in children and schools, the local League worked for revision of Ohio’s school code. As a result, 17,000 rural Ohio children who has been working and not attending school, were able to go to school

1922

For the August primary, over 100 volunteer members organized precincts and distributed literature to homes. The League also endorsed three independent candidates for the school board. A committee was formed to maintain the non-partisan character of the school board.

In September and October 1922, the Dayton League of Women Voters in cooperation with the Federation of Women’s Clubs brought speakers from England, France, and Germany to Dayton in the cause of peace. In July, the League lead a "No More War" demonstration.

1924

Dayton women voted in a presidential primary election for the first time on April 29, 1924. League representatives attended Dayton commission meetings.

In March, the Dayton League reported 300 new members, which brought their total to over 800 paid-up members. Articles in the newsletter dealt with Dayton’s budget, tax rates and facts for school voters.

1925

The Dayton League developed several departments including: Efficiency in Government, International Co-operation to Prevent War, Welfare in Government and Legal Status of Women. There was a policy change: no endorsement of candidates. The League brought a World Exhibit to Dayton. Crowds "four and five feet deep" viewed the display in a window of the Elder & Johnston Co. (where the Reibold Building now stands).

1926

Twenty team captains were chosen to get new memberships and gather renewals. General membership dues were $1.00. Another group called on businessmen to seek financial support. In March, the Dayton League, which had over 1000 members, brought Carrie Chapman Catt here to speak at the NCR Schoolhouse on S. Main St. on "The Cause and Cure of War." Admission was free. The program was preceded with an organ concert by Mr. Robert E. Kline. A dinner in Mrs. Catt’s honor was held at the Dayton Women Club for $1.50 a plate. A November candidate’s meeting was held at the NCR City Club on First & Ludlow at 10:15.

1927

The League began the study of counties. Members kept watch on bills introduced in the Ohio Assembly and was heartily in favor of a bill providing permanent voter registration. At the annual meeting in May, members demonstrated the voting machines.

1928

A budget of $8,430 was presented, with $1,500 from ads. Fourteen neighborhood groups were formed, reaching 300 women. A committee of League members organized a Registration Bulletin Board that was erected on a "prominent corner of the city" with a thermometer for each ward to indicate at the end of each registration day just how many people registered in each ward.

1929

Members circulated petitions to save the city charter’s non-partisan principle. It was signed by 3,600 voters. The League held several League Days such as: "What the Federal Government Does for Education," and "Social Aspects of Your Community."

An overwhelming amount of work was accomplished by the Dayton League of Women Voters in its first 10 years --- in legislation, in government, in civic/citizenship education, in work toward world peace, in membership increase, in financing. These women were amazing in their enthusiasm, their staying power, and their vision.

"Women are quite capable of mastering the complexities of our very complex for of government." and "The League of Women Voters of Dayton is at the service of women who crave both to study and act."

A Ten Year Anniversary And...

The 1930s saw hundreds of women working for the League’s mission against the backdrop of "general business depression." Both individually and organizationally, they struggled with financial problems yet, precisely because of the trying economic times, renewed their commitment by taking to heart the "program of work" of the National League of Women Voters:

"The National League of Women Voters is an unpartisan organization to promote the responsible participation of women in government. The League believes that a continuing political education is necessary to the success of a democratic form of government, in order that an increasing number of citizens shall base their opinions on facts and use their opportunity as voters to make those opinions effective."

At the time of this statement, the League had only recently celebrated the local and the national organization’s tenth anniversary. Comparing that mission statement as we now call it, to the one we currently operate under, you will note the use of "unpartisan," replaced by the non-partisan" today. Similarly, note the importance placed on gender by use of "...participation of women in government." Today, of course, we use the broader term "citizen."

"Every Tuesday a League Day-and Something Every Tuesday."

This motto was adopted by the Dayton League for the 1929-30 program year. Every Tuesday either a board meeting, committee study group meeting, or League Luncheon was held. Operating along the lines of the National League’s recommendations on methods of work...if you were a member of the Dayton League in the early 30s your Tuesdays, and certainly many other days, might be spent:

• Informing and discussing
• Observing
• Conferring
• Training
• Publishing
• Encouraging participation

Thursdays were designated as "supplementary" League Days in 1932. If all this sounds familiar it’s because the activities engaged in under those broad categories by Leaguers like Mrs. D.S. Siebenthaler, Mrs. CNN. Routing, and Mrs. N.M. Stanley (our first president and later state president) are the very same things we do eighty years later! It is interesting to note also, that despite average meeting attendance of over one hundred at "League Day" meeting (which are equivalent to our general membership meetings) and committee study group meetings of 18, the executive secretary in her annual report remarked:

"In summing up all of these various activities of the League of Women Voters, one is impressed again quite forcibly by the magnitude of the organization and its many gifts to its members and to the community; and wonders if this is not one place where some of us are getting rather more out of it than we are putting into it. Is I fair to let a few carry so large a part of the burden—financial and otherwise?"

What specifically might you have done on your Tuesdays for League? You may have been a member of one of the many committees that routinely had invited speakers and/or member discussion of topics within that area. The League committees often tried to bring in noted speakers, but under hard financial times, they often brought in local talent!

The legal Status of Women committee spent time on issues related to property rights, inheritance privileges of women and the study of marriage and divorce laws. You may have heard Honorable William C. Wiseman, Judge of the Probate Court of Montgomery County, speak on "Operation of the Five Day Marriage Law" had you been a delegate the State Convention. Or maybe you worked on the controversial subject of employment of married women teachers.

As a member of the Efficiency in Government committee, you might have been one of the women who worked to bring in 9000 initiative petition signatures from Montgomery County for the Ohio charter amendment on county home rule. You might have demonstrated the voting machine at the county fair or led a ballot-marking class. Or you might have worked on the Lame Duck amendment or the county government study. Perhaps you even "conferred," (we now know it as "lobbied") for the statewide adoption of the use of voting machines.

The Child Welfare committee took up the program of federal maternity and infancy legislation and heard lectures on child labor laws. As a member, you might have led a discussion of child labor and street trades or of compulsory education laws.

Women in Industry did study and work on the establishment of a State Women’s Bureau modeled after the Wisconsin agency. Unemployment was another topic that this group took up.

If visiting jails, detention centers, dance halls, detention homes, workhouses and courts excited you, the Social Hygiene Committee was your answer. They brought in national, state and local speakers on sex education, sterilization of the unfit, and public health issues like venereal disease. When budget problems hit the city, not boding well for the venereal disease clinic, they spoke up and Miami Valley Hospital took the clinic under its wing

Other standing committees included: Education, Living Costs, and International Co-operation to Prevent War.

On Finances and the League

"This depression has not changed the fact that we are voters - it has only made it more significant. Citizens are dealing in these days with issues, the solution of which may affect the direction which government will take for generations to come."

League members found themselves cinching their financial corsets when warnings to develop a sounder system of finance by then executive secretary Miss Ada M. Barnett came true. Frederick B. Patterson’s generous contribution to the League ended. Mr. Patterson had been a great benefactor to the League for years, pledging and honoring annual contributions of $3600. At a special meeting of the board, Mrs. Stanley led a discussion over "...ways and means out of our present financial embarrassment, a substantial amount of our regular income having been cut off." (Minutes of 5/3l): You see, Mr. Patterson’s generous donation accounted for over fifty percent of the League’s annual budget! A footnote on Miss Barnett: she served the League well for four years until she was snatched up by the National League to become Press Chairman!

The board acted decisively by immediately seeking cheaper, alternative office space, and by giving the executive secretary two weeks notice (though ultimately she was kept on). In addition, Mrs. Stanley (president) was empowered to write the Dayton Foundation for a grant. They did indeed receive $1000 and also secured a free room at the Biltmore Hotel. Later, they cut costs by reducing the annual Citizenship School down to one day rather than two. The board decided to drop journal subscriptions and membership in local organizations.

On the revenue side, the board also determined to increase the number of "men contributors." The board later required full payment in advance for advertisements in the Dayton Women Citizen, the monthly newsletter, owing to the difficulty in collecting overdue monies. The Citizen was, at the time, a self-supporting publication that came out ten times per year. On April 6, 1932, Mrs. Nicholas was appointed chair of a committee to draft an amendment to the (League) constitution, inserting a flexible clause in regard to membership dues.

In program, the National League adopted an ‘emergency platform’ reflective of the times. The Dayton League also resolved to focus activities on this ‘platform of 1932-34’ which represented items that had special relation to the ‘present emergency.’ This platform included three main items: constructive economy in government, prevention and relief of unemployment, and international cooperation.

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same!

That old adage keeps floating around in my head. As I continue to muddle through the League’s old annual reports, minutes, bulletins, and news articles, I realize that in many respects we are still doing the same things we’ve always done (or did) before! In League, as in life, what is old can be new again.

• Dating to our first official days, the Dayton League has been lucky enough to have paid office staff.
• And office space! In 1950 we were house on the 3^rd floor of the Talbott Building. As of 11/99 we are now on the 12^th floor of that same building—we’ve moved up in the world!
• What time of day is best for League meetings has long been a troublesome question! The first organizational meeting for the League had a "spirited debate" on when the second meeting should be held! Debates on the best time for committee and board meetings are evident in the records. Afternoons or evenings? Some committees moved to evening meetings for better attendance, some moved to afternoon meetings for the same reason!
• How often has state or local League "stolen" some of the local League’s best leaders? A long time! National League gained and we lost when our Executive Secretary, Miss Baronet became their Press Chairman.
• Just as we go to visit facilities so too did our original members! But besides the usual places such as detention homes, courts and jails, early League members went to dance halls as well! And not to dance!
• Do these activities sound familiar? The voting machine was arriving upon the scene—the League circulated petitions! Today’s good government petition issue is redistricting!
• Problem! In the 1930’s a membership chair was needed! We have always looked for a few good women...and after 1974...men.
• 1933: the League looks to organizing "...a group of young business girls to study along the lines of the League program, with a view to the possibility of the formation of a young voters group." Hmmmm.....the Okayed student group?
• Have you ever been a delegate to a state or national League convention? If you have you will recognize this practice and it has been around for every bit of 70 years now. "Mrs. Pierce moved that Mrs. Stanley appoint the delegates to the State convention, and that they serve under no instructions, but, vote according to their own judgment."
• May state conventions and May annual Meetings. Enough said!
• League members have always been generous contributors of volunteer time and financial resources to their organization.

So That’s How It Started!

Have you ever found yourself thinking, relative to League, -- ‘What did that come from?’ ‘How did that get started?’ Like a thread through a needle, the things we do today have flowed from one generation to another in a seamless fashion. We may not wear the big hats and the white bloomers, but we, in many ways, resemble the founders in our actions and processes.

• The Observer Corps. A seeding was planted when League board members, Mrs. Mathliot suggested that the League have a member regularly attend the meetings of City Commission. Her reasoning? Same as ours today—so many matters of particular civic interest are being considered there!
• At the outset a large board structure was established. From the beginning we have organized ourselves in committees to conduct programs and hold candidates’ meetings.
• Our earliest Voter, then known as the Dayton Women Citizen, featured candidates’ information secured through League-generated questionnaires.
• On the question of distributing mailing lists: early on the Board at that time decided that they would give their member list to the Montgomery Old Age Assistance League, but that in the future, mailing lists would only be given out upon a decision of the executive committee!
• Neighborhood-based groups are reflected in Mrs. Bradley’s suggestion to the board in the ‘30s. She suggested they adopt "Mrs. Keever’s plan for dividing the League membership into small district groups for the purpose of carrying into every neighborhood reports from the central meetings, so that a much larger percentage of the membership may be reached."
• The unit system was instituted nationally in 1948.
• League activism such as on pay equity, "...wages based on occupation, not sex" dates back to the National League’s original 69 positions known as the "Kettle of Eels."
• In the 1930’s the board discussed political support with "...the resultant decision being that Board members should refrain from conspicuous candidate support and that all our campaign efforts should be directed toward support of the question."
• The board takes "no position"—a long-standing practice.
• The League has always lobbied. The early Leaguers called it "conferring." They worked for revision of the Ohio school code in the Bing Compulsory Education Bill and our 3/7/22 Dayton Woman Citizen reflected that: "As a result, 17,000 children from rural districts of Ohio, who were being deprived of school and made to work, are not win school." As a side note: education issues remain a top priority.
• Our Speaker’s Bureau has its roots at the inception of League. League was designed in part to educate the millions of new voters. To give you a sense of its longevity and activity note that in 1921 the Speaker’s Bureau (same name) provided "...75 talks in the city and suburbs on various civic matters."

The 1940's

The 1940’s...no big surprise here! League program heavily emphasized foreign policy as the nation treaded deeper and deeper into foreign waters and soil. Phrases such as "War Services" and "Win the Battle for Production" crept into League vernacular. War with Japan after Pearl Harbor provided the League with an unexpected opportunity for a very interesting annual meeting speaker—Mrs. Choming Tsai Chen. In correspondence with the League regarding their request for her to speak on Chinese women, she noted that she was to go home to China in the fall of 1942, "But this war between The United States and Japan made me have to give up the trip" She also wrote that her topic would be "... China of today in this long war."

Our Third Decade

"It’s Our 20^th Birthday" the annual meeting program announced in 1940. Much of League activity focused on extensive voter service efforts as well as maintaining the study groups (albeit with slightly different names!) that had been established at the creation of our League. These included Education, Government, Legal Status of women, and Juvenile Delinquency. Circa 1945-46 the League will take a more flexible approach with their new attitude expressed as thus in the Annual Report of 1945:

Prior to Pearl Harbor program focused on broad issues like the "Effects of Neutrality" and "National Defense." Leaguer’s were interested in America’s policy on the Far East and Pan-American relations. They

discussed the issue of reciprocal trade agreements. Note how domestic policy became intertwined with international as I recount an exchange between our Executive Secretary and the 1941 featured Annual meeting speaker. It seems that the League invited Mrs. Lowell F. Hobart, Jr., Executive Secretary of the Consumers’ League of Cincinnati (an affiliate of the National Consumers’ League) speak. Mrs. Hobart work Kathryn W. Kneedler that her topic would be "Human Values in the Defense Program." She would speak on "...the need for preserving through governmental action labor standards including unemployment insurance, as a means of national defense." Kathryn wrote back that her choice fit with that which had occupied so much of the public’s and League’s interest in that "...We had a hotel strike for many months and it interfered with our meetings and luncheons, as many people preferred not to cross the picket line. The wave of national strikes lead to much questioning as to just how the League stands, etc." (Remember we were now housed at the Miami Hotel)

A the "General Council of National League" in 1941 it was decided that all the League’s efforts and resources would be put to an "...IMMEDIATE (sic) campaign to help "WIN THE BATTLE OF PRODUCTION." Interestingly, the War Production Board adopted the very same slogan as their own! The Dayton League answered the call! They went ... "all-out" with newspaper publicity, letters to editors, editorial features, and weekly radio programs. The Speakers’ Bureau sponsored 4-5 minute talks at neighborhood theaters. Pamphlets and flyers were distributed. Billboards were erected at the bridges and other strategic venues. Members helped with a drive for aluminum sponsored by Civilian Defense.

An objective of Wartime Service program (changed from Defense in 1941) was to spread information as widely as possible on wartime problems of government. Subjects covered by speakers at meetings included: State and Federal Division of Protection of Civil Liberties; Freedom of Speech; and Rationing.

"Unity in World Planning" was the theme set forth by National League and the task was for Dayton to arouse public opinion in favor of world cooperation. Twenty-four discussion leaders disseminated information through groups, neighborhood squads, and personal contacts. In all, 3000 broadsides were distributed with titles such as "Whose Foreign Policy" and "Foreign Policy Quizzes" (sic).

In 1945 under Foreign Policy it was noted that "Study and action in this field are carried on simultaneously. But with the swift movement of world events, all activity in this area has been greatly intensified." The League studied and acted to generate public opinion in support or and amendment of the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals (basic plan from which the charter of the United Nations was developed at the San Francisco Conference in 1945.) In January of 1945 the Campaign for a United Nations Organization was launched with Mrs. Strickland as the director. Four hundred women’s groups were invited to day and evening schools to learn about and receive material. One hundred and twenty groups sent representatives and went back to their groups well-informed. "Eighteen women in the enlarged Speakers Bureau will long remember April, 1945, as Dumbarton Oaks month."

Following up on their "Dumbarton Oaks Institute" the League in 1946 held a series of five discussions on "World-Wide Relief and Rehabilitation." They offered talks on:

"The World Starves While We Eat"

‘‘Problems in Asia and Europe-Displaced Persons and Re-Education"

"After UNRRA, What?"

"United Nations Charter"

"Two Major Problems in our Foreign Relations—Our Chinese Dilemma and What to do with Atomic Energy"

In addition to their own programming, League joined with the Rotary Club and Dayton Post-War Council to bring Rhys Davies, Labor Leader in the British Parliament to Dayton to address a 500+ crowd. A public demonstration was held in support of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration—the forerunner of the U.N.). League supported full U.S. responsibility for strengthening the U.N. organization. Another public demonstration occurred in December 1945 to emphasize the food problem in Europe.

Through the end of the decade League continued their commitment to educating themselves and others and advocating on international relations issues. "Can we help maintain peace by an aggressive foreign policy to oppose the spread of Russian communism" was the May 1947 annual meeting speech given by Dr. William E. Utterback of the Ohio State University. Study groups were organized on the subjects of Peacetime Military Training, Displaced Persons, the Foreign Policy Platforms of the Candidates, and of course, the United Nations—how it works, its functions, etc." In September of 1948, the League embarked on a "Taking U.N. to the Community" effort which went on until May, 1949. Leadership training occurred for ourselves and outside organizations. Part of the campaign involved "Increasing Education Sources." It was noted that "Through splendid cooperation of Mr. Boda, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, (Carolyn Bridgman called him "Dad"!) kits of material were sent by the Dayton Council on World Affairs for use in Civics and History classes. At the Edwin D. Smith Elementary School (Oakwood), plans were in place to work with the PTA council to present U.N. flags to every school next year with an appropriate ceremony.

Members Here, Members There, Members Everywhere!

League membership had waned in the late 1930’s. Membership records reflect that their numbers had dipped to the low 120’s! Then in the early 1940’s membership was around the 200 mark with notes being made by the Board of 1941-42 that "Members failed to renew for 1942 for many reasons, chief among them was the pre-occupation with traditional war work, such as Red Cross, Civil Defense, etc." The years 1944 and following were more kindly to the League in terms of membership. Membership rosters between 1944-1949 show membership soaring as high as 460! This was due to concerted efforts like the leadership of Mrs. B.F. Suffron and Mrs. Frank R. Somers whose membership drives were highly successful. That year they yielded 201 new members in 1945-46!

"Help Wanted Female" was the title of the membership questionnaire and Membership Teas and Orientation courses were offered to entice and involve new members. Membership teas were held in September and October of any given year. They were very well attended as illustrated by Mrs. Benhams in 1947 at which she hosted 126. Mrs. George Mead hosted 126. Mrs. George Mead hosted 140 people in attendance at the 1948 Membership Tea. Presidents’ of the League of Women Voters of Ohio served as guest speakers at these teas. Orientation courses were offered with the agenda including: a review of the pamphlet "25 Years of a Great Idea." a review of League legislation; and a discussion entitled "Active Participation."

While membership drive numbers such as 124 new members as of May 1, 1949 are really spectacular in today’s terms, they must also be viewed from the perspective that was expressed by the Board of 1945-46: "As we being to close another year’s activities, we look back over a year of many changes. Changes in personnel are conspicuous in our membership, in the resignations and leaves of absences of board members, and even in our staff, where we had three assistant secretaries in as many week."

So from that perspective of changes we note that for several years the net gain of members was fewer than 40, and indeed, in one year there was a net loss...this despite actual new members of over 100! An example of this flux is illustrated by this quote from 1947-48 Annual Report: "135 members gained for the year—lost 106 former members I—giving us a net gain of 29...."

The Annual Report of 1947-48 and Progress Report of 1946-47 included information that demonstrates that national League was enjoying similarly good results in membership increases. Membership nationally at that time was 83,000 members as compared with 72,000 the year. The national League had experienced a 68% increase in just four years. In 1947 Ohio had 26 local Leagues with 522 nationally. Membership numbers for all Ohio was 4,887 representing a net gain of 690 from 1945. By 1949 thirty-two of the 88 Ohio counties had League chapters.

Despite the ebb and flow of members, they were an active bunch! Large percentages of members actively participated in a myriad of ways if the record-keeping is correct...and I have no reason to think it’s not! They did all this "In our tiny office, so full of desks, files, equipment,....you trip over the telephone to get to the mimeograph, three people can’t sit down at once; the shower-room (they were at the Miami Hotel) serves for files; there is usually the typewriter going, someone on the phone, several people huddled around the other desk trying t have a meeting, while the Treasurer stands in the door, wishing she could reach the check book, and the editor of the Citizen wails, "This office was to be reserved for me today. I have few people coming in to help stamp and address."

In 1945 half of the 119 new members attended at least some monthly meetings and 42 of them took on some specific League responsibility. Out of 388 total members, "128 different members took part in the work of the League, aside from attendance at meetings." The creation of a Personnel File in 1945-46 recorded the activities of League members. It disclosed "...that more than 250 (out of 460) members had participated in one or more activities throughout the year." In 1949 the numbers participating in program or active work was 206!

Do you know of these women? Members all!

1935: Mrs. E.L. Kohnle - 14 Patterson Rd.; Mrs. Fred Kohnle - 65 Stoddard; Mrs. C.H. Pull - 118 Spirea Drive; Mrs. Fred H. Rike; Mrs. W.S. Robinson - 52 Harmon Terrace; Mrs. Stanley Wise - 3703 E. 3^rd St.; and 2 Mrs. Schaeffer’s. 1936: Mrs. H.L. Boda; Mrs. James M. Cox - Trailsend; Mrs. C.J. Brennan; Mrs. Fred Olt - 637 Belmont Park N.; Mrs. Frank A. Brown - 51 Harmon Terrace; 3 Mrs. Legler’s; 2 Miss Hall’s; and Mrs. F.O. Eichelberger - 1020 Harvard Blvd. 1944: 2 Mrs. Carr’s; Mrs. Maurice Gogle (Mickey’s mother-in-law); Mrs. C.E. Greene - 407 Delaware Ave.; Mrs. Horace M. Huffman; Mrs. Marie Hussong I- 416 W. First Street; Mrs. Daniel Maimon - 1822 Grand Ave.; 2 Mrs. Marcus’s.

Betty-Ruth Fanning (then referred to as Mrs. Garner Fanningi) was first vice president in 1954, and editor of the newsletter in 1956 and 1958. Through all of the 1950s newsletters, we see Betty-Ruth’s name involved with the international study group—as a leader and as a presenter. In 1957, she presented the topic: "Should Washington D.C. Get the Vote?" (We’re still working on that one!) She also was a moderator for League TV programs.

Mickey Gogle (then referred to as Mrs. John Gogle) "jump in with all four feet" at her first League meeting in 1956, when she volunteered to present the topic on Natural Resources at the next meeting. Mickey served as president from 1958 to 1960 when the League office was in a very small room in the Arcade. She says she was "way too green" but they couldn’t find anyone else to take the job. It was noted in the newsletter that members of the board were attending the monthly meetings of the County Commission and of the City Commission and that, "Mrs. Gogle is interested in having our entire membership participate in this activity." (Note our Observer Corps, today.)

Doris Spicka (then referred to as Mrs. Joseph Spicka) was the leader of the County and State Government Study. Mildred Abbott (then referred to as Mrs. Lyndon Abbott) presented the topic, "Freedom of Navigation on International Waterways."

STUDY, THEN ACTION

Study Groups
In the decade of the ‘50s, League studied many of the same issues we study today: Natural Resources, including water conservation and pollution; Education, including adequate financial support of the public schools of Ohio (We continue to work on that one!); and Health Issues (That may forever be an issue!)

The International Affairs Study Group was very active in studying and keeping members informed. "Which China should be in the United Nations?" and "World Trade" were two of their topics.

A "Tour of the Slum Areas of Dayton" complemented the studies on Housing, and City and County Welfare.

There were study groups on Ohio’s Constitution, Individual Liberties, Library Needs, County and State Government, a Hospital levy for the indigent sick, and the "Clash in the Suez Canal Zone," In 1957, the issue of lowering the voting age to 18 was studied.

Action

League supported:

• a bond issue for a new courthouse and a juvenile center;
• the 1951 school bond issue and levy;
• a vote in favor of a Constitutional Convention in 1952;
• a four term for state senators;
• an appointed, not elected, state board of education;
• better facilities for care of the mentally ill;
• a "yes" vote for a $20 million school bond issue in 1955;
• any trade legislation that "encourages to the maximum degree the development of International trade";
• reciprocol trade agreements;
• the 1958 Dayton Tax Levy;
• a vote against a bill to re-extend the federal security program to cover all government employees;
• higher salaries for psychiatric and social workers in the mental health fields;
• elimination of sales tax stamps.

GENERAL AND PUBLIC MEETING

Of the many general and informational meetings, I will mention only a few:

In 1953, the associate editor of the Dayton Daily News spoke on, "The Middle East - Ferment and Transition." (That certainly seems appropriate for the year 2000!)

A panel in 1955 discussed the "How, Why, and Safety of Atomic Power."

There were 500 in the audience at the Dayton Freedom Agenda Project which asked the question: "Should citizens have the right to prevent a group from holding a meeting if they feel the group’s intentions are harmful?"

The price of the chicken dinner (including tax, tip and desert) was $2.50 for a dinner meeting and a panel discussion on "Individual Liberties and National Security" in 1957. (That price, of course, is compatible with salaries at that time)

VOTER SERVICE

Throughout the 1950s, voting machines were used at the polls and our League arranged for demonstrations every year. In 1953, twelve members had a machine at Third & Main where about 600 citizens learned how to use it. At the 1956 Montgomery County Fair, League volunteers had a booth where 2,106 people took advantage of the voting machine demonstrations.

Every fall, Voters’ Bulletins (we now call them Voters’ Guides) were printed and distributed. And there public candidates’ meeting and ballot workshops.

League was a co-sponsor, with the Junior Chamber of Commerce for a "Get Out the Vote" contest using the help of grade school children.

UNITED NATIONS

The League of Women Voters has supported the work and aims of this international organization since its birth. The September ‘51 newsletter noted: "The U.N., as the only workable international instrument, is our only hope for permanent peace," In 1952, members were urged to write to their senators and congressmen (congresswomen were not mentioned then) to support our commitments to the U.N. and the North Atlantic Treaty. During UN Week in 1953, special exhibits of flags and U.N. posters were placed in 14 city stores.

USE OF THE MEDIA

The Dayton and Yellow Springs Leagues did a series of TV programs devoted to current legislation on problems on the national, state, and local levels.

Radio stations WAVI, WONE, and WING gave the League time for election day information and spot announcements. And the Dayton Daily News had a Section 2 front page spread on the local League.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

The budget for 1952 allocated $100 for equipment. After this money had been used for a typewriter and some supplies, the old mimeograph machine gave up. The board voted to take money from the emergency fund for a new machine. (Sometimes, we still need to use the emergency fund.)

In the December 1952 newsletter was a request for someone to please loan an adding machine to the League. In January 1959, there was a request for a donated desk lamp. (They did get the desk lamp. I don’t know about the adding machine.)

FINANCES

As is true in present times, League always needs money. In many newsletters the need for money is mentioned and financial drives are announced.

Here’s one to try:

The Dayton View Evening Unit had a project called, "A Penny a Day for the League." Each member saved her penny a day. These pennies were collected at the monthly meetings and then given to the Dayton League in May. (What a good idea! Perhaps we could do "A Dime (or a quarter)" a Day for the League.)

As we wend our way through the year 2000, perhaps we can whip up our enthusiasm to meet the goals of our board’s Strategic Plan: to excite our members, garner sufficient funding, increase our visibility, increase participation and increase our membership. There’s still a lot to do!

"STUDY AS SHE GOES."

It’s the psychedelic sixties and League membership is at highs not seen since the very early years! Unparalleled to this day! What was stunning about the membership statistics is not so much the sheer number 450 - 550 throughout the decade, but the activism of those members. Regularly the unit chairs reported attendance at units averaging 250, in one month it skyrocketed to over 300! The membership lists document another change as well, As you look over the pages of members’ names, you see the liberalization of their monikers. Women were listed as "Mrs. John Q. League," and then "Mrs. Jane League," and finally just "League, Jane." The League had a name change as well as the LWV of Kettering and the LWV of Dayton merged after a LWVUS "reinterpretation" of national by-laws to permit formation of Area Leagues. l961 saw them try out the arrangement and it was made permanent in 1962.

‘It was a little different than PTA...’

League membership numbers for the decade of the sixties is outstanding, but what explains it? Not to disparage the PTA in any way, but League is a little different than the PTA. And this was one reason why Virgene Moser joined the League when Ruth Fullerton, neighbor and League member, brought her to a unit meeting. Evelyn Ferguson joined the League in 1964 after her neighbor, and former League member, Jean Dougan invited her to go to a candidate forum. Evelyn noted that her experience in League leads her to think that membership was way up in those days because many saw League as a place for mental simulation and camaraderie. This was a time prior to women entering the workforce in large numbers - a time when women were at home with children, like Evelyn whose youngest was three but her other children were old enough that she could be out of the hose doing volunteer work.

Interesting Work If You Can Get It!

There was plenty of League work to go around as "Study" was the word of the decade! So much so that the 1967 Unit Organization Annual Report blurb read "A combined meeting of all Board members and unit officers was held in November to discuss problems and to offer suggestions. It was agreed that the number of program items needs to be reduced (Emphasis added ) The unit leaders asked, due to time limitations at unit meetings, that one meeting a year be devoted to that one meeting a year be devoted to covering our Continuing Responsibilities rather than trying to discuss them in addition to a study presentation...." Mrs. John M. Gogle, Unit Organization Chairman

CA’s and CR’s! How many of you remember that little bit of historical League Lingo? In reading the records it was not abundantly clear exactly what that meant until I ran across the following definitions circa 1965/66:

Current Agenda: Such current local governmental issues as the membership shall choose for study and concerted action.

Continuing Responsibilities: Those positions on local governmental issues to which the League has given sustained attention and on which it may continue to act.

Each annual meeting the membership would approve, by paper ballot voting, CA’s and CR’s in large numbers. They were presented for a vote subheadings by geographical local: Area CA’s and then the Districts (League was divided into districts at that time) of Dayton, Kettering, Oakwood, Centerville-Washington Township, etc. The Current Agenda was what we now know as studies, and both they and the Continuing Responsibilities (we still use that reference, though more likely we refer to them as our Positions!,) are adopted all together as the "Program." And’ a CA could become a CR as in "Your Board recommends that this year’s CA#4 (Home Rule for Montgomery County be dropped as a CA and become CR#5." You need a Dick Tracy decoder ring to figure that out! Just Kidding!

What did they do studies on you might ask? The 1963 Annual Report Program will give you an idea of just how much studying was going on, and this was very typical of the entire decade. Studies of issues on all three levels of government were quite common. "An unusual number of League members have participated in the study groups this year. There have been two National items, two State, two Area, two Dayton District and one Kettering. Members in Fairborn, Oakwood, Trotwood, and Washington Township have been undertaking the local government surveys for Know Your Town studies." Mildred Abbott. Program Chairman. There were study committees that routinely had upwards of 15 members. Each of the units had representatives to the study committees, then other members joined as well. Mickey Gogle tells me that of effort went into preparing for unit meetings...including rehearsals! Joan E. Albrecht would have unit presenters rehearse their program at her house!

Narrowly passed at the annual meeting 25-22.

As you can see there was a lot of activity around issue education! This intellectual stimulation must have provided an enticing reason to join League...or maybe it was that dues were only $7.50 in 1967...$6.00 before that! There were ample opportunities to attend meeting as Kettering had three units - morning, afternoon, and evening. Oakwood and Washington Township had afternoon and evening! There were in 1960 only eight units, but as the years flew by, in its heyday, the League had 16 units in operation from Fairborn to bellbrook-Sugarcreek to Harrison Township to Trotwood-Madison to Northmont and all points in between! Those 1960 Leaguers were right when the unit approach was viewed successful because "...the personal contact and experience of unit participation has proved satisfying to guests and new members."

Where were you at the turn of the New Year 1975-76? That was twenty-five years ago, a quarter of a century, a milestone in its own right as the nation looked to its bicentennial! Today in 2000, we have been all wrapped up in millennium fever, but as our story of the League reaches the decade of the seventies I thought it would be interesting to pick a moment in time to see what League events and public affairs issues commanded member interest. The time frame is the same as you read this Voter, just twenty-five years hence, November-December 1975 and January 1976. So as you read think about your experiences during that time...what were you doing? Were you a League member? Will any of this sound familiar? Personally, I was looking forward to graduating from high school as a member of the bicentennial class, thinking about colleges, prom, cheerleading for basketball season, and boyfriends as New Year 1976 approached!

The November 1975 Voter noted "With the aftermath of Watergate, the nearing of our Bicentennial, and presidential election, Leaguers are presented with an excellent opportunity to examine the powers of the presidency." Well isn’t that interesting? Here we are in November 2000 with some of the public and the League calling for change with respect to a different aspect of the presidency -the electoral mechanism that provides for the peaceful transition of power from one individual/party to another. November 1975 unit meetings looked at the issues of presidential powers, succession and terms of office. The study material included information on executive agreements, war powers, emergency powers, and fiscal policy powers of the president. Members were asked to discuss changes in the terms of the office looking at a single term for the president and the repeat of the 22nd amendment. Just this past June the delegates voted a new study "...of systems used to elect our legislative bodies and executive officers at all levels of government." No doubt this study will be of great interest to League and the general public.

Also in November/December ’75, Leaguers were patting themselves on the back, and rightly so, far electoral victories in the defeat of statewide ballot issues. That election cycle the State board had come out in opposition to Issues 2, 3 & 5 of the nine total statewide ballot initiatives. The proposed constitutional changes that League opposed would: authorize tax incentives to industrial plants; permit the issuance of bonds and notes for capital improvements financed by a .9 cent per gallon gas tax; and lastly, allow the state to issue general obligation bonds and notes to be financed by a .7 percent increase in the sales tax for state and local capital improvements.

For this action campaign League members canvassed neighborhoods with the handbills, stood outside plant gates at shift changes, and distributed flyers through the churches. Paula also remembers the League getting a lot of media coverage. League was outspoken and vocal on this issue, but Paula noted that ‘...the purpose of League is to take stands on issues.’ In the May, 1976 Annual Report Barbara Berliner, Action chair wrote that "Both major dailies, as well as suburban papers, were inundated with letters from Leaguers opposing these issues. Margaret Goodman and I couldn’t keep up with requests by members for leaflets they could distribute....’ Barbara went on to recount how League was "....swamped with requests to discuss our rationale for opposition." Leaguer’s rose to the call to complete 23 speaking engagements. With the money raised, the League was able to purchase 13 newspaper advertisements and 64 thirty second radio spots. What a great effort!

In other November 1975 election-related information it was noted that 4 League women secured elective office.

The December Voter reported that Janet Johnson was re-elected to the Oakwood Council. Jackie Mann was re-elected to the West Carrollton School Board. Shirley Omietanski was elected a Miami Township Trustee and Norma Keister was elected to the Kettering City Council. I asked former President MacIIwaine if she felt League was a ‘proving ground’ for women interested in political office, to which she responded resoundingly, "yes, definitely." Paula went on to greater political activity just a couple of months into 1976 herself when she resigned the Presidency to run for county commission. Lastly, for elections back then League members and others out and sent in a "Voting Rights Questionnaire." Respondents provided information on things such as the visibility of flag markers, placement of sample ballots, poll-worker behavior, number of voting machines, campaigning or partisan literature visibility, and signature