Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-21
WOMEN NEEDED
IN CITY BOARDS,
THEY ASSERT
Club Leaders Open Campaign,
Saying Time Has Come for
Change in System.

Mayor Woodward having told the
Atlanta clubwomen, in meeting as
sembled, that he had less power than
any other Mayor in these United
States, the Atlanta clubwomen are
planning to help out the Mayor, also
Atlanta. and TO that end they recon-
mend to the Council "the expediency
of placing on certain municipal boards
a minority of women members"
And the Mayor. as may be con-
cluded from his speech Friday before
the annual meeting of the City Fed
Grafton OF Women's Clubs, Is rather
favorable to the idea.
Wherefore, the Atlanta clubwomen
are more than ever keen to get into
municipal housekeeping which the
Mayor says now is too complex-and
show the men how to straighten out
certain tangles in civic operation.
1t Is not argued that the addition of
women to boards and committees
would render the situation less com
pick, but the women say that the
fact that time means money to men
more frequently than to women would
result in more careful attention to
civic affairs by the boards and COM
mittees having women members, even
in q minority.
The intent of the clubwomen Is
very clearly set forth In the follow
ing resolutions, adopted Friday at the
big meeting In the Womans Club
Building in West Baker street:
Whereas the administration of the
municipal affairs of Atlanta is daily
becoming more complex and more
burdened by an ever growing mass OF
detail; and
Whereas the best possible house.
keeping for Atlanta, in every phase
Of its life, Is of as vital interest to
the women of Atlanta as to Its men:
and
Whereas capable women. can be
found competent to aid in the strug-
gle for @ better, cleaner. happier At
lanta: and
Whereas such aid from compe-
tent women would not only bring
strength to these departments, but
would partially relieve the pressure
of municipal duty which Is now laid
entirely upon men, to whom more
frequently than to women time
means money!" Therefore, be IL
Ask for Board Members.
Resolved, That the City Federation
of Womens Clubs composed OF S6
organizations and approximately 1000
members) at it's midwinter meeting
recommends to the General Council of
Atlanta the expediency of placing
upon certain municipal boards a mi
nority of women members.
Women would be especially useful
upon the following boards and COM
mittees: Schools. parks and play
grounds, libraries, health, sanitation
and hospitals and charities.
This recommendation is made moi
so much for the sake OF the womer
| as of the boards. To hold removed
from municipal duty one-half of oui
! intelligent citizens as pound to be q
loss to the community.
Speakers Praise Women.
Mrs. Samuel Lumpkin, president OF
the City Federation, presided at the
session, and the speakers for the oc-
casion were Mayor Woodward, DR..
Claude Smith, representing the health
department; James L. Mayson, City
Attorney; Claude Ashley, chairman
of sanitation: Jesse Wood, chairman
of parks, and A. W. Farlinger, chair
man of libraries.
Every one of these speakers ex-
pressed, more or less directly, his be-
lief that women could exercise a great
and helpful influence in the admin
istration of civic affairs, and the hope
that the Atlanta cIubwomen would in
future be more closely allied with the
actual operation Of the various de-
partments.
This was the nature of the intro
duction given the foregoing resolu-
tons, offered by Mrs. John X. Ottley.
chairman of the advisory committee
of the federation.
A condensed summary CT tho move
ment indicates that he clubwomen be-
lieve they can be Of assistance to the
men on such committees as those on
schools, parks, Fairgrounds, libraries,
health, sanitation. hospitals and char
tiles They do not believe their pres
ence on these boards would render
more complex the work of the men.
but rather would simplify It,