NAWSA Subject File Congressional Union Bates, Helen K. Maine Suffrage Association Miss Helen N. Bates, 65 Sherman Street, Portland Jan. 6, 1915 My dear Mrs. Catt: I am in a very trying situation and I want your advice. Mrs. Florence Brooks Whitehouse of Portland was our chairman of organization last year and was reappointed this year. In the mean time she became very much interested in the Congressional Union in Washington ( having joined that organization last summer when Mrs. Florence Kelley was here) and she brought back Miss Dorris Stevens and they organized here. Mrs. Whitehouse took the position as State organizer for the Union and is also on the National Council. Now the [problem] comes from her work as organizer for the Congressional Union and for the State. Her plan is to speak for the State and organize and at the same time get individual members for the Union. She does not see why she may not do her State work in connection with the Maine Woman Suffrage Association and her Federal work in connection with the Congressional Union with whose policy and methods she is sympathy as opposed to the policy of the National Association. Now of course this is an impossible arrangement. The State Association has always been loyal to the National and in sympathy with its non-partisan policy and we hope to get help from the National later and I do not want in any way to mix up with the Congressional Union.. Several members o[n] our board belong to the Union and this makes a complication but I think even those members will see that it is unwise to have an organizer working for the State and the Union at the same time. We are to have a board meeting next Tuesday, Jan. 11th and Mrs. Whitehouse who is also a member of the board, will outline her plan of work and the board will decide whether they wish to retain her as organizer under the circumstances. She will not resign as organizer for the Congressional Union. If you will give me your opinion as to whether a State should allow an organizer to work for the State and at the same time be an organizer for the Congressional Union it will help me very much. Your opinion would have weight with the board and if I did not think it wise to read your letter at the meeting I could let individual members know your opinion. I suppose you have had this problem presented to you again and again. I regret the situation particularly, [for] because Mrs. Whitehouse has been one of our best workers but she [only] came into the work only two years ago and I think that is one reason why she got into this - she did not know suffrage history. I shall be greatly obliged if you will give me an immediate answer so that I may receive the letter before Tuesday. Sincerely, Helen N. Bates Maine Woman Suffrage Association. President, Miss Helen N. Bates, 65 Sherman Street, Portland. Vice-President-at-Large, Mrs. Hannah J. Bailey, Winthrop Center. Vice-President, [Mrs. Emma E. Knight], 5 Knight Street, Portland. Recording Secretary, [Miss Anne Burgess], 8 Whitney Street, Portland. Corresponding Secretary, [Mrs. Lucy Hobart Day], 655 Congress Street, Portland. Treasurer, Mrs. Sara P. Anthoine, 87 Emery Street, Portland. Auditor, Miss Alice Blanchard, Preble House, Portland. Superintendent Literature, [Miss S. A. Clark], 21 E. Promenade, Portland. Supt. Enrolment, [Miss Margaret Laughlin], 118 Spring Street, Portland. Supt. Press Work, Miss Ella O. Woodman, 492 Cumberland Ave., Portland. Legislative, Miss Helen N. Bates, Chairman. Organization, Mrs. Florence Brooks Whitehouse, Chairman 42 Deering Street, Portland. Jan. 6, 1916 My dear Mrs. Catt: I have sent you a letter today seeking your advice on a situation that is causing me much anxiety. Fearing you might not get the letter in time to answer before our board meeting next Tuesday, I am sending this by special delivery. The problem is in regard to our State organizer who has become deeply interested in the Congressional Union (MIss Doris Stevens has been here organizing) and has gone in to the National Council and taken the office of State organizer for the Union. She is interested in the State work and wants to hold that new office in the state. As nearly as I can tell she intends to speak for the State and after the meeting get individuals (indi)viduals to join the Congressional Union. She can not be made to see that as we are affiliated with the National we can not consistently have an organizer who is working for an organization whose policy the national condemns. At our board meeting next Tuesday (she is a member of the State board) she is going to state her case which is that she does not see why she can not work for the Federal Amendment through the Union whose methods and policy she approves and do the State-work at the same time. The board will decide whether it is willing to have her carry out this plan. I am of course opposed to it as the State has always been loyal to the National and approved its non-partisan policy. If you will let me know immediately your view of the situation I shall be very grateful. Sincerely yours, Helen N. Bates Maine Woman Suffrage Association. President, Miss Helen N. Bates, 65 Sherman Street, Portland. Vice-President-at-Large, Mrs. Hannah J. Bailey, Winthrop Center. Vice-President, Mrs. Emma E. Knight, 5 Knight Street, Portland. Recording Secretary, Miss Anne Burgess, 8 Whitney Street, Portland. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Lucy Hobart Day, 655 Congress Street, Portland. Treasurer, Mrs. Sara P. Anthoine, 87 Emery Street, Portland. Auditor, Miss Alice Blanchard, Preble House, Portland. Superintendent Literature, Miss S. A. Clark, 21 E. Promenade, Portland. Supt. Enrolment, Miss Margaret Laughlin, 118 Spring Street, Portland. Supt. Press Work, Miss Ella O. Woodman, 492 Cumberland Ave., Portland. Legislative, Miss Helen N. Bates, Chairman. Organization, Mrs. Florence Brooks Whitehouse, Chairman 42 Deering Street, Portland. Jan. 22, 1916. My dear Mrs.Catt: The dates you gave for the visit of the N.E. Congressional Campaign Corps to Portland - Mon.and Tues. Feb. 28&29 - are satisfactory to us. We will do our best to make the meetings a success. It is very important that nothing be said to antagonize the Congressional Union as many of our suffragists have become connected with that organization. One of our leading workers is organizing for the Congressional Union and for us at the same time. This arrangement I feel is not for the best interest of the state work but she is sustained by the Board and I am sure that to force an issue at this point would be unwise and I believe we shall soon get together if our differences are not emphasized. Nothing could be more opportune than this Congressional tour that you have planned. It will clear the air. As we have no session of the Legislature this winter we shall be very glad if you will give us a longer time to answer your questionnaire. We are starting on organization work and our report [later] will be much better later than now. The situation in Maine is very peculiar - the State is a favorable field if we could only get money to push the work. Our State is poor and we have no wealthy people connected with our organization. We should like Mrs.Park among the speakers. [I] Sincerely, Helen N. Bates P.S. We can arrange for only one evening meeting. We want it Monday. 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