New Britain herald., 1914-05-06
COUNCIL OF WOMEN MEETS AT ROME
Countess of Aberdeen Prtsides
 Over QuRquenniaI Session.
MANY DELEGATES ARE PRESENT
Mrs. Sewall of Maine Circulatcs Pamphlets Urging Deposition of President of Assembly Who Has Held Office For Past Twenty Years.

President of Assembly Who Has
 Held Office For Past Twenty Years.
 Rome May 6.-The second days meeting of the international council of women now being held in Rome under the presidency of the Countess of Aberdeen, developed an effort to depose the countess from this posi- ton. which she has held for twenty years.
 Mrs May Wright Sewall of Maine has caused to be circulated to the del- egates pamphlet entitled The Gen. esis of the International Council of Women" the purpose of which is to bring about the defeat of the coun- tess to the presidency of the organiza- tion for the ensuing term of five years.
 Principle Not Maintained.
 Mrs. Sewall maintains that the principle of the organization cannot be international if one nationality always is represented in the presi- dency. She does not advocate an American for the post but takes the ground that other than an English woman should be chosen. She de- clared that twenty years under the countess of Aberdeen has gradually transformed the international coun- cil into a purely English organization.
 The inaugural address of the coun- tess of Aberdeen lays particular em- phasis on the impetus obtained by the woman's movement throughout the world. Women. said the countess, being true to the Golden Rule, com prehend the needs of humanity more than do men. She reviewed previous sessions of the council, and said the sessions held in America will be ever memorable to those who eXperi- enced the warmth of the reception by their sisters on the American con- tinent. 'The American meetings gave us all a new understanding" the president continued, 'of the real significance of the international coun- cil of women"
 Delegates Are Greeted.
 The countess then greeted the dele gates from the twenty-three nation al councils in Rome today and espe-
 
 Portugal, which countries have re- gently joined the international move ment. She regretted that illness had prevented the coming of the dele gates from South Africa.
 The countess drew particular atten- tion to the handbook distributed to the delegates entitled, "The Position of Women in the Laws of Nations" Id toI, p1N hot irfI country in the world has laws making distinctions between men and women which are unjust to the latter This, she declared, is an argument for woman suffrage.
 Fundamental Ideas Reviewed..
 Reviewing the fundamental ideas of the international council the coun- tess described these as favorable to international arbitration, the exten- sion of suffrage to women, the im- provement of the public health, the protection of immigrants and better ment in existing systems of education and opposed to the white slave traffic She invited the council to form stand ing committees to deal with the sub- jects of anti-alcoholism and profess sional occupations for women.
 The wider interpretation of the Golden Rule, the address continued. should mean that charity, instead of limiting it's activities to the giving of aims should undertake the prevention of crime, pauperisin and degeneracy. and the raising of the submerged classes to condition of self respect. The care of the sick should go be- yond present day limitations and en- ter the field of preventing disease and promoting the health of body, mind and soul.
 Must Educate Parents.
 Children, said the countess, have a right to be we'll If disease, crime, ignorance and vicious indulgence operate against their good health the parents must be educated to a higher conception of their obligations.