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 /MviERICAN 
 MOTHERS 
 
 OF 
 
 NATIONAL 
 DEFENDERS 
 
 IM«U8«WWWMWWt^|««l««|^«l«^ 
 
 f*Tri^{^a7?i^fi8?tr;fvtt^ivi.>ift^»T»Kt; 
 
 Organized Feb. 13, 1918 
 
 Copyrightp^,1918 
 
 ^M 
 
 American Motners ot National Usfenders 
 
Officers and Trustees 
 
 Mrs. A. H. Strickland President 
 
 Mrs. A. E. Singleton Vice-President 
 
 Mrs P B. Pritchett Secretary 
 
 Mrs. L. J. Rogers Treasurer 
 
 Mrs. R.J. Lawrence Historian 
 
 Mrs. L. K. Perry Registrar 
 
 Mrs. C. G, Stovall 1 Year 
 
 Mrs. C. C. Bates -_._2 Years 
 
 Mrs. C. M. Franklin 3 Years 
 
 StP. I3!91b 
 
4> 
 
 
 CONSTITUTIONS AND BY-LAWS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN MOTHER'S OF NATIONAL 
 DEFENDERS 
 
 Adopted March 12, 1918 
 
 ARTICLE ONE— NAME 
 
 This organization shall be known as 
 American Mothers of National Defenders. 
 
 ARTICLE TWO— OBJECT 
 
 The object shall be the organization 
 of duly constitnted membeis consisting of 
 mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of 
 soldiers and sailors who served under the 
 flag of the United States during the 
 world wide war Avhich Vv^e entered 4-6- 
 1917. In order th:.t v:^ may (] ) erect suita- 
 ble m,onuments and historical tablets com- 
 ]»emorative of heroes and heroic actions, 
 (2) encouraige studies and reasearches into 
 the cause of the war, effects and modes 
 of warfare: (3) obtr.in and preserve a 
 record of the service of each individual 
 soldier and sailor connected with our 
 chapter: (4) Drom,ote constructive pat- 
 riotism and historical knowledge of our 
 country: (5) encourage and extend 
 mutual symDathy to those in breaveraent 
 thi-ough loss of i-elatives in the v:ar; (6) 
 
P: 
 
 'J 
 
 and in general to promote an/l expanded 
 degree of mutual service ampng our 
 members through cooperation, mutual 
 suggestions, conferences and public 
 meetings. 
 
 ARTICLE THREE— MEMBERSHIP 
 
 Duly legalized relatives of American 
 citizens who fought under the United 
 States and allied flags are elligible to 
 membership, provided adequate proof of 
 service and honorable discharge is given 
 of same. The applicant must be over 18 
 vears of age, and an American citizen. 
 The name of applicant must be presented 
 to the chapter, voted on and accepted by 
 3-4 of members present: ai>nlication blank 
 vill be given them to fill oui;, return 
 to the rfegistrar, to b^ examined and sign- 
 ed by the committee on credentials. 
 
 section Two( of article three) 
 
 Only members of t],e Cancnssian 
 race are elligible for inembership. 
 
 ARTICLE FOUR— OFFICRES 
 
 The officers shall consist of Presi- 
 ilent. Vice-Pres. Secretary, Treasurer, 
 Ifislorinn and Registrar, wbo shall be ele- 
 cted at the regnlar meeting in Febnary: 
 Installation to take place a month follow- 
 ing:. 
 
Section Two (of article four) Trustees 
 
 At the annua] meeting- in February 
 lliere shall also be three members at 
 larige elected for a term of three years 
 (except first two, who shall be elected 
 for one, and two years thus having- one 
 1o expire and one to elect thereafter) 
 these tog'othei* Avitli the officers vshall 
 form a board of trustees, who shall have 
 power to fill vacancies on tLe board that 
 occur between annual meetings, Avith 
 other d\ities collective and individually 
 that pertain to similiar officers in other 
 orci'anizntions. 
 
 ARTICLE FIVE— CUES 
 
 A membership fee of r)Octs. shall ac- 
 company application paper; same to be 
 refunded if applicant cannot (jualify for 
 membership half of fee to go into head- 
 quarters. Annual dues of 50 cts. shall 
 he paid on or before, date of, and prior 
 to , aniiual election of officers under 
 penalty of automatic suspension. 
 
 Section Two (of article five) 
 Restoration 
 
 I^Jembers n.nder suspension for non- 
 payment of dnes are retsored to full 
 
 membership ov. payment of same. 
 
BY-LAWS 
 
 1 — A majority of votes shall be necessary 
 to pass any motion. 
 
 2 — ^The President mjay not vote except in 
 case of tie. 
 
 3 — No member is entitled to vote who is 
 not in good standing. 
 4 — Members may be suspended or ex 
 pelled for any conduct unbecoming a 
 member of this chapter. Written charg- 
 es prefered a month prior to hearing of 
 such in regular meeting — copy of same 
 having been sent to accused that they 
 ma}^ have the benefit of defense. 
 5 — Any member under suspension ;foi' 
 three years automatically looses mem- 
 bership (except for non-payment of 
 dues). 
 
 6 — The acceptance or expulsion of any 
 miember shall require 3-4 vote of the 
 members present. 
 
 7- -The president shall have the right to 
 veto any vote of chapter, except the vote 
 on membership, 
 
 8 — To pass a vote over the presidents 
 veto shall reqire 4-5 vote of members 
 present, and notice of such vote shall be 
 •given a 7nonth prior to action, unless 
 such vote be take^i at the meeting veto 
 was exercised. 
 
 0— x\ quorum to transact any business 
 shal] consist of the president or vice 
 prc-^ideut, the secretary or treasurer and 
 
five othor mem'bprH. 
 
 10 — All private and public meetings must 
 be held in a parlimentary manner and in 
 case of dispute Palmers rules shall pre- 
 vail. 
 
 11 — All ballots for membership, suspen- 
 sion or explsion or the election of offi- 
 cers shall be written and cast in secret, 
 nor shall any member be questioned re- 
 'garding the character of their vote. 
 12 — The colors shall be sam-e as used on 
 United States Flag. 
 
 18 — Death emblem shall be a gold star. 
 13 — Song for chapter-God Save, Keep, 
 Hold our Men.'' i 
 
 15 — Name of chapter must be geoj^gra- 
 phieal. 
 
 16 — No member may speak on any sub- 
 ject more than twice. 
 17 — The constitution and by-laws may be 
 amended by 3-4 members present, a 
 riionths notice having been given. 
 18 — Application blank as appended. 
 
 Adopted March 12, 1918. 
 
APPLICATION BLANK 
 
 To the officers and miembers of 
 American Mothers of National Defen- 
 ders, Chapter No. 1 located at Union 
 Springs, Alabama. 
 
 I, the undersiigned, respeetfnlly pet- 
 tion to become a member of the American 
 Mothers of National Defenders. I here- 
 by certify that T bear the relationship of 
 
 to who is serving", 
 
 or served, in the world wide war as pri- 
 vate or officer in the 
 
 if died or discharg-ed, give time of ser- 
 vice In making application 
 
 to this chapter I state (1) that T am 
 actuated by patriotic motives, (2) that 
 I do so in order to aid in carrying ont 
 the purpose for which this chapter was 
 created (3) that T will cheerfully pay all 
 just dues, unless prevented by financial 
 inability, (4) thnt T will conform to the 
 rules, reg'ulations, constitutions and by- 
 laws of this chapter: realizing that har- 
 monev is the sten.o'th and sunport of in- 
 stitutiojis. esDceially those of a patriotic 
 nature T do hereby promise obedience to 
 ihQ expressed wish of the majority. 
 
 1 still further promise that T will b*^ 
 loval to the constitution of the United 
 State^^ and to its laws, that T will endea- 
 vor to promote loyalty in this order, in 
 mv home and wh ereever T may be; tha"*" 
 in time of war T will refi'ain from all 
 
criticism of my country that might en- 
 courage dissatisfaction disloyalty or re- 
 sistance to organized authority: and 1 
 heartily agre to abide by same. 
 
 Signature of applicant 
 
 Recommended bv 
 
 We, the committee on credentials 
 find the above applicant worthy of mem- 
 bership in our chapter. 
 
 Rouistrar 
 
 Clipping form The ^lontgomery 
 Journal March o, 1918. Montgomery, Ala. 
 
 "WAR MOTHERS ORGANIZED 
 
 IN BULLOCK COUNTY 
 
 Over in Union Sprin.gs, Mrs. A. li. 
 Strickland has originated something that 
 will strike a responsive cord amon?.^ 
 patriotic ])eople-the ''Americ.n Mothers 
 of National Defenders". She proposes to 
 make of it a national order as far reaching 
 in its membership as th'3 J^aughters of 
 tlie American R.evoluti(»ii. Union S))vings. 
 Itei' JKim.e citv, has "f'si)f>nded Avith a 
 charter membership of tiurty and inter- 
 est and appreciation that promises more 
 members drawn from (:m:0ng' the mothers 
 siters and wives of soldiers. The idea 
 wliich orignated in that sympa^lieiic co;n- 
 
mnnity of Alabama, out of the abun.iaiice 
 of love and patritosm which exists there 
 has been commended widely and pro- 
 mises to be adopted thromghout America. 
 An organizer is expected also to take up 
 the work in Montgomery within a few 
 days. 
 
 Already the mother chapter has re- 
 ceived encouraging commendation from 
 many quarters. Governor Henderson 
 showed his approval in a letter to the 
 author of the chapter in which he ex- 
 pressed the opinion that the organization 
 will be an appropriate banding to-gether 
 of these who have the deepest of sympa- 
 thetic feeling between them. 
 
 Women who have sent their men to 
 the front. Other prominent men who 
 favor the stimulation of patriotic ideals 
 have been as enthusiastic in their appro- 
 val of an organization of this character 
 
Governor Henderson's let+er, express- ] 
 ing his opnion of the plan was as follows: ! 
 
 Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 15, 1918. 
 Mrs. A. H. Strickland, ] 
 
 Union Springs, Ala., - 
 
 Dear Mrs. Strickland: ! 
 
 1 am in receipt of 3^0 urs of the 15tli 
 advising me of an organization origina- 
 ed and formed at Union Springs, which i 
 you wish to make nation Avide. I see i 
 nothirjg in this organization that ' 
 wonld conflict with any of the war ac- ' 
 tivities that have been heretofore launch- i 
 ed or likeh' to be organized hereafter. I \ 
 can, however, see much bentfit to be de- ' 
 rived from an association of those who i 
 liave sent their husbands and sons to the ' 
 front to defend what is dearest to man- ; 
 kind-home and country. Theie is more 
 of a sym^)atlxetic feeling between those i 
 Avho have sons and hvisbands at the front 1 
 than can be brought about in any other- i 
 way, and it appears to me that banding ; 
 to-gether the women of the country who 
 are making this sacrifice will stregthen \ 
 patriotism and create a stronger desire • 
 for service. The proposed organization < 
 has my approval and believe it can easily , 
 be made state wide. ; 
 
 Yours very truly, \ 
 
 Chas. Henderson, Governor. ; 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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