On the train
Dear Miss Addams
Thinking of all our problems in a somewhat sleepless night I have reached this conclusion which I hand on to you:
We need Miss Rankins service now when she is free to give it but in some position in which she would have some compensation (however [illegible] quote) and from which she might easily step back into a political campaign for herself if the way should open. That makes it best on two accounts for her not to be asked to serve as Chairman even if Mrs. Leach should refuse. Yet Miss Rankin if working for us should be listed on letter heads in dignified position.
Also, Mrs Thomas [although] I believe likely to do good work is not yet well enough [page 2] to undertake a task that seems to demand too much strength. I propose that we secure Mrs Allender as planned, for office sec. at $125 per month for a year’s engagement. With the understanding we had ↑reached [concerning]↓ of the Washington office that we bracket Mrs Thomas’ name and that of Miss Rankin as “Executive Secretaries” as follows:
Mrs. Harriet P. Thomas
Miss Jeannette Rankin
Executive Secretaries [page 3]
To be more exact -- "Executive Secretaries
Mrs. Harriet P. Thomas (Resident in Washington)
Miss Jeannette Rankin, (Field [illegible] organizer)"
To indicate that Mrs Thomas and Miss Rankin are together responsible for [policy & extension] of work while Mrs Thomas is nearest to Washington office and Miss Rankin [specially] active in the field.
I think if we did not [exact] too much of Mrs. Thomas it would be right to ask her to serve us at the [page 4] Washington end for $100. per month. If Miss Rankin would feel that in view of the fact of our poverty and in view of the large bill for travel expenses, should she could accept for a while at least $100. per month for her service as a trifle [page 5] toward proper pay we could start in at once with a budget of $200. per month ↑for 6 months at least↑ Ex. Secretaries $125 additional in office sec, making $325 beside office rent and printing etc. and a big bill additional for Miss Rankins travel expense.
It would be understood amongst us of course that we were not giving suitable salaries [page 6] only sharing the gifts our [so-called] salaried officers were making to the cause.
If you approve this plan kindly ask Miss Breckinridge, Miss Abbott and others for their judgment and wire me (after seeing if Miss Rankin would assent) before our special conference on Saturday morning next.
Mrs Lewis, Mrs Leach, Mrs Karsten, Mrs Cothren, Mrs Thomas & I meet then and if you approve this plan it will help much to get Mrs Leach to assent to take chairmanship.
Please talk ↑it↓ over with Miss Rankin on this basis and include her decision in the wire to me.
Yours, Anna Garlin Spencer
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