Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-05-31
Outdoor Art League Endorses
Movement For Woman
Suffrage.
Open Sessions Have Encouraged
People to Take More
Interest.
HOLDING POLITICAL MEETINGS

| a luTlHtT utNelOp0ueuS III the USE
of our public buildings by various
organizations for political purposes
referred to in last weeks Kentucky
Irish American, took place on Thurs
day, the 22d inst, when the Outdoor
Art League at a meeting held in
the art room of the Free Public
Library went on record as endorsing
the movement for woman suffrage
This is one of the clubs that de-
manded of the Library Trustees two
weeks ago the exclusive use of the
old Polytechnic room on the second
floor that is about to be vacated.
The reason attention is called to this
meeting is simply to show the pub
lie who pay for all this fun the
nature of the meetings that are be-
ing held in our library buildings, and
to point out the studied effort that
Is being made for getting possession
OF them by these women's organiza-
tions.
In order to get clear idea of what
the ladies composing the Outdoor
Art League did at this meeting an
what was said. as reported in their
organ, the Herald:
''If we are to present a petition to
the next Legislature asking for full
suffrage" said the principal speaker
on the motion, 'I think it is impor-
tant that no doubt be left in the
minds of the Representatives as to
the number of women who stand be-
hind this petition. It would there
fore seem the part of wisdom to en-
dorse this principle as club"
It will be noted that the object
of this movement is to present pc
tition to the next Legislature asking
for full suffrage. II was this prin-
ciple. that the club endorsed by a
vote that consisted OF all yeas and
no nays. After the ladies have thus
placed themselves on record we
hardly think they will deny they are
in politics. and they must there
fore now plead guilty to the charge
we made against them that they are
holding political meetings in build
ings erected for library purposes.
This is what we charged last week
In calling attention to the action of
the Highland Civic League in en-
dorsing a candidate for the Judge
ship of the County Court.
Another phase of this subject that
will soon reveal itself is a movement
to place women on the Library Board.
This is a matter that We happen to
know has already been discussed by
those who are advocates of woman
suffrage, and If these women's clubs
ever secure possession of the Poly
technic room the next step will be TO
get representation on the board. 1t
may not be generally known that in
creating the Kentucky Library Com
mission the last Legislature was
coaxed by ibevy OF charming look
ing lobbyists into permitting the
Federation of Women's Clubs-to
which these organizations we have
under criticism belong-to name one
Commissioner of the five composing
the board This privilege was in
in the bill that was
passed. and a woman representative
of the Federation of Women's Clubs
today occupies place on the com
mission. The ladies now believe
they should secure representation on
the local Library Board.
There are other changes, however,
that are apt to be made in that body
before this is brought about. SO
much dissatisfaction has been felt
with the course of the Library Board
since its organization that It is ex-
pected steps will be taken at the next
TO cut down the number
of Trustees from twelve to five. II
Is true that as now constituted the
board Is an Improvement on former
ones, because Mayor Head has ap-
pointed business men instead of pro-
fessional men during the past two
or three years, but a body OF twelve
is still a burdensome absurdity when
you come TO consider the work they
are called upon to perform, and
there is a growing feeling that five
men would be able 10 transact busi-
ness more satisfactorily and make
fewer mistakes. Since the sessions
have been opened TO the public the
people are taking more interest IN
the management of the institution,
and the officials are slowly realizing
the fact that they must hold them
selves accountable TO public opinion
for what they door fail to do-in
the performance OF their duty.