Evening star., 1912-07-04
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

and 1t has been recommended that the
general federation issue a bulletin giving
special information regarding che best
means of influencing legislative action.
Ano!ner publication under prospective
consideration by the general federation is
q manual which VIII give the property
rights of women in the different states.
their public rights Il, to membership of
boards of state instSt buttons, guardianship
OF children and other matters which effect
the child and the family life Several of
the state federations have such books at
their command. the first having been pre-
pared for Pennsylvania chiefly through
the efforts Of Mrs. Rudolph Blankenburg
Oh Iniiadelphia. Even in states where
woman's suffrage has not yet become a
popular issue club women are realizing
that an interest in legislative matters is
one form Of patriotism and are becoming
more eager in increasing 1t.
Many of the clubs have taken up the
study of public legislative policy. with the
argu m n ts
Legislative Policy both for and
Is Subject of Study. asam'a ss,a n,se.,oa. asoa.-
in the belief that increased knowledge
and understanding of public affairs will
tend to create keener interest in them
The Chicago Women's Club was one OF
the hrst to take up this line of work. and
1t has carried out carefully prepared
program for two years. Among the sub
jects considered have been 1.-The Relative
Advantages of State Rights W.. a Central
Power" The Standard Oil and Tobacco
Decisions Before the Supreme Court .
The Conservation of Natural Resources
of All Kinds. Including the Alaska FUR
Industries" and many other matters per-
tanning to national legislation. In the
study OF the legislative methods of their
state Chicago club women have consid-
cred the effects of party government in
contrast to control by faction, city gov
eminent by commission, direct primaries
and the short ballot
The fact that Mrs. Ellen Spencer Nus
sey, the chairman of the legislative COM
mitteS of the
Mrs. Mussey's Position general fed
Will Increase Interest now cow = car,
didate for the ONCE of judge of the Ju-
venie Court of the District of Columbia
will do much to c9peentrate the interest
OF tha club women of the country in leg
islation for child welfare. In Chicago
Mrs. Catherine Waugh MacCullough has
held the office of judge for more than
two years, notwithstanding the fact that
equal political rights for the women in
the state OF Illinois have not yet come
under active consideration. With the
growing influence in favor of placing
women upon school boards and boards os
public institutions comes the recogni-
tion of the fact that there are many
woman lawyers ip the country competent
to fll the office Of judge. and that au-
thority for their appointment is legis-
lative measure OF interest and impor-
tRnce to the welfare Of the women and
children of the nation.
An important branch of work closely
akin to Legislative effort taken up by
the general federation Is that of the de-
partment OF civil service reform. which
for more than ten years has been valiant
ly working to secure properly qualined
persons, to I'LL all public Offices in every
part of the country without regard to
their political aspirations. In some states
the efforts OF the women have had such
great influence that every office in the
state, including the janitors Of all pub