The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
LEAGUES RECORD
PLEASESLEADERS
Democratic Women's Recent
Convention Discussed by
Its President.
WORK NEW TO MEMBERS
Mrs. Ayres Says "0ld Politician
Praised Delegates for Temper
at Proceedings End.

with the closing of the first annual
convention of the Woman's National
Democratic League there passes into
history the first record ever made of a
convention gathered together by par
tisan political organization composed
exclusively Il women" said Mrs. Ste
ven B. Ayres. the newly elected presi-
dent of the league, last night.
Many of these members had had the
pleasure of attending the Baltimore
convention, a few were present al the
Chicago convention, but many had never
had the opportunity Of participating In
anything more stirring than club
election or of witnessing other than
local demonstrations of personal popu-
larity.
BE that as it may, the women of
this convention are TO be congratulated
upon their courage and fortitude, and
for sticking to their guns during such
long hours of weary discussion. The
fight was so complicated that old poll
ticians remarked with respect on the
condition and temper of the women as
they left the convention and took up
their wifely and womanly duties.
The first day was closed that mem
bers might enjoy the hospitality Of the
chairman of the reception committee,
who, in her official capacity. provided
such a charming and nonpartisan re-
ception. and where, by intermingllnS
with people of other affairs the menu
beers of the convention could lay aside
the cares of the day and of the NOR
row and talk of anything else than the
National League as one of the active
women remarked. On the evening OF
that same day many were found al
the reception given the Speaker of the
House of Representatives by the Con-
gressional Club, another nonpartisan
gathering.
Meet Mrs. Cleveland.
AT the close of the third and most
trying day, after an uninterrupted session
beginning at 10 o'clock in the morning.
many attended the reception given by
Mrs John Hays Hammond to Mrs.
Grover Cleveland. Over half of the ten
newly elected officers returned directly
TO the New Willard from Mrs. Ham
mond's residence to meet in executive
session before returning home for their
dinner. in order that those who must
proceed to New York that night might
be present at the first special meeting OF
the executive board OF 1919,
Only IN the newspapers Were there
any tears, and no hysterla was dis
played. The Kisses began as 'sh-sh' to
quiet the house, that the remarks might
be heard, and was mistaken by the spec
tators at the doorways, who tarried a
moment and We're allowed to stand there
through the courtesy OF the presiding
u3firer, Mrs. John Sherwin Crosby, from
Inen and women who little appreciated
how serious and how national and how
far-reaching was the fight.
The women of the convention re-
deemed themselves from any doubt as to
whether they could conduct their own
campaign with dignity, and their fac
tional difficulties with sound judgment.
There was no boiling, nor was there any
physical spectacle OF disorder.
Unity in Executive Board.
The incoming administration of the
WOman's National Democratic League is
indeed fortunate in having members
OF its executive board women who rep
resent diverse interests, diverse walks
of life, and about all the factions deveI-
Oped in the convention.
Our ten officers are more or less
strangers to each other, We were lined
up under different leadership, but we are
all one in wishing the National League
to be established as a permanent me-
mortal to the women of the Democratic
party, and TO the womanhood of this
country.
Il am one who must have household
gods and tradition to point the way for
new paths. l pay tribute TO the mothers
of Democracy who are so seldom men,
toned, but who for sixteen long years
have met the rebuffs of our party in the
woman's world, and who as housewives
and home-builders have awaited, while
OF the minority party, the dawn OF to-
day.
They are our patron saints. and we
~ 70 har haI r.-f.k
us in this convention a woman of such
splendid integrity and wisdom as the sis
ter-in-law of the last Democratic Vice
President. Adlai E. Stevenson, and TO
merit her interest and her counsel
should prove in Itself our loyalty to
American institutions and sincerity OF
purpose. The directors of the National
League are our sponsors. and we hope
that We shall equal their requirements
and sine up to their standards of right
and of life, always prOtiting by their
counsel.
Women of the suffrage States aided
us by their cooperation. and we all meet
as sisters on the common ground Of
woman's opportunity to learn the privi-
leges and principles of Democracy as
applied to American institutions. 1
would that every member of the National
League study carefully the foreword
printed in the convention programme
written by one of the ablest men on a
prominent magazine staff. And he chose
as the first lines those written by Sir
William Mitchell Ramsay: One thing
is certain. No nation can stand perma-
nently higher than the level of its
women. On them depend the ideals and
the aims of the next generation Let
us as women live up to our opportunity. g."
WOMEN STRIKERS co TO JAIL.