Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-18
women HOPE TO RAISE
FUND FOR DEMOCRATS
All Preliminary Work of Ma.
tionaI League Is Speedily
Completed.

Miss Katherine Dabney Of this city Is
the originator of an entirely new idea for
defraying the campaign expenses Of the
democratic nominee for President, Gov.
Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey. She
conceived the idea, and gave the initial
impulse to organize the Woman's Ma
try-wide in its scope, and has as its OBJ
ject paying the campaign expenses of the
democratic party in its coming fight
Miss Dabney says she experienced no
little difficulty in organizing the league.
no one caring to take the initial STEP
After the league received the enthusiastic
commentator Of many men prominent in
the democratic party things became
easier for her. Applications for MEM
bership and expressions of cooperation
began pouring In from every quarter.
The first meeting Of the local branch of
were elected at this meeting, and each
section Of the proposed constitution was
read, discussed amended where 1t ap-
peared to be necessary, and adopted
without a hitch of any sort.
All Deeply Interested.
Every one interested in the organization
being fully aware Of the object. and
taking q deep interest in the progress OF
the work proposed, the preliminary work
has been disposed of in record time
when the league was formed we de-
sired to give our support to whatever
candidate the convention in Baltimore
selected. not declaring ourselves to favor
any one candidate" said Miss Dabney
II am convinced Of the accomplishment
Of the object We have in VIEW" Miss
rNf hn n
cratic senators have assured us of their
support and consider the idea to be
step in the right direction, and long
step. too. In previous campaigns much
of the fund obtained has come from a
few rich men and corporations. With our
system we mean to obtain far greater
number of smaller contributions from
every city and town in the United states.
With women working to accomplish this
in all parts Of the country l believe we
will meet with q great success.
At meeting yesterday afternoon OF the
local branch of the league of which Miss
Dabney was appointed vice president, Mrs
John r. Mclean was elected president
Mrs. Mclean did not wish to accept the
office feeling that she was not qualified
to act as presiding officer, and asked
the members to reconsider, accepting the
Office only tentatively. Mrs. John Sher-
win Crosby of New York has been made
president Of the national organization,
for the state organizations.
Several Vice Presidents.
Mrs. Duncan U. Fletcher, wife Of the
senator from Florida, has been appoint
ed vice president of the league in that
state. Mrs. Claude A. Swanson is vice
president in Virginia, and Mrs. Clarence
w. Watson, wife Of the senator from
West Virginia, Is the vice president In
her state. In Oklahoma the vice presi-
dent is Mrs. Thomas P. Gore, wife Of
Senator Gore.
There is more or less misunderstand
ing about the question Of woman's suf-
frage in connection with this new organ
ization," said Miss Debney. Il would
like to say that we as an organization.
heartily indorse any progressive move
ment Of women, but do not advocate It,
being organized for the one purpose al
ready stated. There are great many Of
us who are suffragists, and our organiza-
ton does not disapprove Of the move
ment. have been q suffragist myself
for twenty years, but let me emphasize
that the Women's National Democratic
League disregards the question alto
gether."