Chapter 303. To incorporate the American War Mothers
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CHAP. 303.— An Act To incorporate the American War Mothers. February 24, 1925.[[H. R. 9095](/us/bill/68/hr/9095).][[Public, No. 453](/us/pl/68/453).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, * District of Columbia.American War Mothers incorporated.Incorporators. That the following-named persons, namely: Alice M. French, founder, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mable C. Digney, State War Mother, White Plains, New York;
Mrs. George Gordon Seibold, Washington, District of Columbia; Mary I. Huntington, State War Mother, Bloomington, Indiana; Edna C. Wilson, State War Mother, Warrensburg. Missouri; Libbie Thomas, State War Mother, Racine, Wisconsin; Virginia Heaen, State War Mother, Frankfort, Kentucky; A. Shanahan, State War Mother, Jersey City, New Jersey; Blanche A. Bellak, State War Mother, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Lydia Burby, State War Mother, Butte, Montana; Estelle T. Wilcox, State War Mother, Omaha, Nebraska;
Emile Hendricks, State War Mother, Salem, Oregon; Grace R. Montgomery, State War Mother, Charlotte, North Carolina; Kate C. DeKay, State War Mother, Blackfoot, Idaho; Elizabeth Allen, State War Mother, Loveland, Colorado; Ida McCullough, State War Mother, Ottawa, Illinois; Rose S. Sargent, State War Mother, San Francisco, California; Jessie Monahan, State War Mother, Edmond, Oklahoma; Margaret N. McCluer, Kansas City, Missouri; Carrie R. Root, Gardner, Illinois: Mary E. Spence, Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
Alice Bronson Oldham, Lexington, Kentucky; Florence A. Latham, Kansas City, Missouri; Mahala967 M. Boyd, New Castle, Indiana; Carrie White Avery, Washington, District of Columbia; H. C. Morrison, Shelbyville, Indiana; Jeanette Boone, Kansas City, Missouri; Gertrude R. Cary, Joliet, Illinois; Mrs. R. E. Little, Wadesboro, North Carolina; Mrs. Isabelle Clements, Sacramento, California; Mrs. Alice E. Evans, Pueblo, Colorado; Mrs. Mary Dawson, Idaho Falls, Idaho; Mrs. Jessie T. Lesh, Chicago, Illinois;
Mrs. Harry C. Morrison, Shelbyville, Indiana; Mrs. Jessie E. Moody, Carterville, Missouri; Mrs. J. L. Roddy, North Platte, Nebraska; Mrs. Catherine H. Connelly, Newark, New Jersey; Mrs. Ella O’Gorman Stanton, Bronx, New York City, New York; Mrs. R. C. Warren, Gastonia, North Carolina; Mrs. Hattie V. Selkin, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Ida Boxwell, Middletown, Ohio; Mrs. Charles S. Fohl, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Mrs. E. L. Phillip, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Mrs. Julia A. Wilkinson, Portland, Maine; and their associates and successors duly chosen are hereby incorporated and declared to be a body corporate of the District of Columbia by the name of American War Mothers, and by such name shall be known and have perpetual succession with the powers, limitations, and restrictions herein contained.
Completion of organization. Sec. 2. That the persons named in section 1 hereof and such other persons as may be selected from among the membership of American War Mothers, an association of women whose sons and daughters served the allied cause in the great World War between the dates of April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, are hereby authorized to meet to complete the organization of said corporation by the selection of officers, the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, and to do all other things necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Act, at which meeting any person duly accredited as a delegate from any local or State organization of the existing organization known as American War Mothers shall be permitted to participate in the proceedings thereof.
Objects of corporation. Sec. 3. That the object of the corporation shall be to keep alive and develop the spirit that prompted world service; to maintain the ties of fellowship born of that service and to assist and further any patriotic work; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, State, and Nation; to work for the welfare of the Army and Navy; to assist in any way in their power men and women who served and were wounded or incapacitated in the World War; to foster and promote friendship and understanding between America and the Allies in the World War.
Meetings. Sec. 4. That said corporation shall hold its meetings in such place as the incorporators or their successors shall determine. General corporate powers. Sec. 5. That the corporation created by this Act shall have the following powers: To have succession until the membership as hereinafter provided for shall become extinct, with power to sue and be sued in courts of law and equity; to receive, hold, own, use, and dispose of such real estate and personal property as shall be necessary for its corporate purposes; to adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure; to adopt a constitution, by-laws, and regulations to carry out its purposes, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States or of any State; to use in carrying out the purposes of the corporation such emblems and badges as it may adopt; to establish and maintain offices for the conduct of its business; to establish State, Territorial, and local subdivisions; to publish a magazine or other publications, and generally to do any and all such Acts and things as may be necessary and proper to carry into effect the purposes of the corporation.
Personal property exempt from taxes. Sec. 6. That all of the personal property and funds of the corporation held or used for the purposes hereof, pursuant to the968 provisions of this Act, whether of principal or income, shall, so long as the same shall be so used, be exempt from taxes by the*Proviso*.Restriction on real or personal property holdings. United States or any Territory or District thereof: *Provided*, That said corporation shall not accept, own, or hold directly or indirectly any property, real or personal, except such as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of its creation as defined in this Act.
Sec. 7. Qualification limitation to membership. That membership is limited to women, and no woman shall be a member of this corporation unless she is a citizen of the United States and unless her son or sons or daughter or daughters of her blood served in the Army or Navy of the United States or in the military or naval service of its allies in the great World War at some time during the period between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, both dates inclusive, having an honorable discharge or still in the service.
Sec. 8. Nonpolitical character. That this organization shall be nonpolitical, and as an organization shall not promote the candidacy of any person seeking public office. Sec. 9. Assets of existing organization may be acquired. That said corporation may acquire any or all of the assets of the existing organization known as American War Mothers upon discharging or satisfactorily providing for the payment and discharge of all its liabilities. Sec. 10. Exclusive use of name. That said corporation and its State, Territorial, and local subdivisions shall have the sole and exclusive right to have and to use in carrying out its business purposes the name of American War Mothers.
Sec. 11. Annual report to Congress. That said corporation shall, on or before the 1st day of January hi each year, make and transmit to the Congress a report of its proceedings for the preceding calendar year, including a full*Proviso*.Not printed as public document. and complete report of its receipts and expenditures: *Provided, however*, That said report shall not be printed as a public document. Sec. 12. Registration of State agents. That as a condition precedent to the exercise of any power or privilege herein granted or conferred this corporation shall file in the office of the secretary of each State the name and post-office address of an authorized agent in such State upon whom local process or demands against American War Mothers may be served.
Sec. 13. Official acceptance of charter. That this charter shall take effect upon its being accepted by a majority vote of the incorporators named herein who shall be present at the first meeting of the corporation, due notice of which meeting shall be given to each of the incorporators named herein, and a notice of such acceptance shall be given by said corporation, causing a certificate to that effect, signed by its president andFiling. secretary, to be filed in the office of the recorder of deeds of the District of Columbia.
Sec. 14. Authority to alter, etc. That Congress may from time to time alter, repeal, or modify this Act of incorporation, but no contract or individual right made or acquired shall hereby be divested or impaired. Sec. 15. Officers who shall serve until next annual convention. That the management and direction of the affairs of the corporation and the controlling and disposing of its property and funds shall be vested in the persons duly elected at the last annual convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, who shall be the officers of the American War Mothers for the year beginning October, 1923, to serve until the next annual convention to be held at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 8, 1925, or until their successors are duly appointed, and who are the following:Names.Margaret N.
McCluer, National War Mother, Kansas City, Missouri; Carrie L. Root, first vice National War Mother, Gardner, Illinois; Blanche A. Bellak, second vice National War Mother, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Mary E. Spence, third vice National War Mother, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Rose S. Sargent, fourth vice969 National War Mother, San Francisco, California; Alice Bronson Oldham, national recording secretary, Lexington, Kentucky; Florence A. Latham, national corresponding secretary, Kansas City, Missouri;
Mahala M. Boyd, national treasurer, Newcastle, Indiana; Kate C. De Kay, national historian, Blackfoot, Idaho; Carrie White Avery, national custodian of records, Washington, District of Columbia; Estelle T. Wilcox, national auditor, Omaha, Nebraska. Approved, February 24, 1925.