Text Box: The National Republican Party was founded in 1854, but no woman could say that she was a Republican until 1920, with the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. In September, 1920, one month after the amendment was ratified, four San Antonio women approached Mr. Russell B. Wine, a local attorney, asking that he assist them in the formation of a Republican women's club. They were members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the National Women's Suffrage Party. These first women were: Mrs. R.J. Milburn, Mrs. Alexander Boynton, Mrs. Jimmy Rue, and Mrs. Frank Wine, Mr. Wine's mother. From this beginning came the Republican Women's Club of Bexar County. The first officers were: Mrs. R.J. Milburn, President; Mrs. T.J. Nye, First Vice President; Mrs. Elizabeth Frey, Second Vice President; and Mrs. Jimmy Rue, Secretary. Miss Eleanor Brackenridge, an active Republican, was elected Honorary Life President. The first meeting was held in her home at the request of her brother, Colonel George Brackenridge, a very influential citizen in our area. As the owner of the San Antonio News, he was most helpful in publishing items of political interest and giving publicity to the blossoming GOP of Texas. In honor of the founding women and members, he furnished the refreshments and a big brass bank. Mr. Harry M. Wurzbach, the future Republican Congressman from Texas, was the guest of honor. The club boasted a membership of 600 women. The Republican Women's Club of Bexar County was extremely active in the campaign and election of 1920, working in house-to-house action for the Harding-Coolidge-Wurzbach ticket. The results of the election are proof of what an organized group can do, especially a group of dedicated women. Mr. Wurzbach was elected to Congress and was reelected time and time again until his death. He was always a booster of the Republican Women's Club of Bexar County. He gave it much credit for his political success and often appeared and spoke at the meetings. The early meetings were held at the homes of the members, with speakers on interesting and timely topics. The members were active during the 1940s when Wendell Wilke and Thomas E. Dewey were the Republican presidential nominees. The main object during these years was to hold the party together. The members now began to meet regularly in the Cascade Room at the St. Anthony Hotel. The Club had no particular projects for fund raising programs. There was no great party organization and it was difficult to keep the group functioning. It was due to the efforts of only three or four women that the club persisted. Mrs. Loyd Winship has said that she acted as president whenever no one else would take the job, and no one knows how many years that was. These were the lean years. Texas was completely a one party state, and only during a presidential election was there any Republican effort. In the absence of speakers, the programs frequently consisted of round-table discussions with all members participating. With the advent of the 1950s and the successful nomination and election of General Dwight Eisenhower as a Republican President, interest once again ran high. There was such a large turnout for the monthly meetings that the club had to seek larger accommodations. It was at this time that the name was changed to Bexar County Republican Women's Club. By-laws were adopted and objectives named, these objectives being: to promote an informed public through political education and activity; to increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government; to facilitate cooperation among Republican Women of Bexar County; to foster loyalty to the Republican party and to promote its principles and ideals; and to work for the election of Republican party nominees on the local, state and national levels. From the 1950s on, there has been not only a growth of the organization, but a strengthening of its membership. While the membership does not equal the 600 women who belonged in the early '20s, we are no longer the only Republican women's organization in Bexar County, and combined membership of all such Bexar County organizations now far surpasses that early mark.

HISTORY OF BEXAR COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN

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