The Washington herald., 1914-05-03

and chiIdren?" One would think a
mere novelist would assume the heroic
role. Can it be that Mrs. Humphry
Ward does consider the woman who
lives and works for others the real Jean
dare?
Long in Use Here.
Mrs. Wards idea of an advisory coun-
ell to get legislators to pass measures
for the protection of women and children
is not new. Except in the details Of its
organization, II has been fully worked
out here in America by the Federation
OF Women's Clubs. The principal object
OF organizing our women's clubs and
our federation was to bring together
women widely separated by social and
religious lines. and to unite them on
common ground for the good of all.
For this reason. from the very first, re-
ligion and politics were excluded from our
discussions. Yet II is a fact that the in
fiuence and approval OF the Federation Of
Women's Clubs have helped to pass more
laws for the protection of women and
children than any other single agency in
our Commonwealth. Miss Emily P. Bis
SELL who originated the Red Cross stamps
to fight tuberculosis, and has been promi-
nent in relief work for some years, tells
me that in her experience the Federation
of Woman's Clubs has never introduced
and approved a well prepared bill on be-
half of women and children without hsv-
ing II promptly passed by the legislature
and been enacted into law. Can any par
tisan organization or political party
claim as much?
In the beginning of our work I recall
that many opposed allowing the w. {.
T. c. and suffrage organizations to join
the federation, saying that they were so
aggressive that they would endeavor to
control the federation, thus diminishing
its power to serve the good of women OF
all creeds, conditions, views. and parties
1 thought better of them. and during the
time I was president OF the State Fedora
tion of woman's Clubs I never had any
cause to change my opinion. These topics
were never brought to the front.
Decision Would Mean Split.
Now that woman suffrage has come be-
fore the Pennsylvania legislature II is
matter upon which we are all thinking.
Therefore. 1 am entirely in accord with
the policy Of the federation in urging
clubs to study this question. i would do
all / could, however. to prevent the fed
eration's taking any action or voting
on the subject. / would not wish to see
woman suffrage Endorsed or denounced
by the federation. for this would mean
that the federation would become a
suffrage or an anti-suffrage organiza-
ton, and those of different views would
be obliged to drop out, form another
association of clubs, and thus defeat
the very purpose for which ours came
into existence. This matter has brought
several of our clubs almost to the break
ing point. A clash has happily been
averted through the wisdom of some Of
our able leaders-particularly Mrs. owen
Wister. now gone from us. She was
most insistent that the Civic Club of
Philadelphia and the State Federation
of Woman's Clubs should not take sides
in this discussion. but be perfectly fair
and impartial in all dealings on this
subject.
1t apears that the federation is in
grave danger of disruption II we are
going to begin to discriminate against
members on account of religious opin-
ions or political views. The suffrage
agitation is intrinsically a political issue,
and the federation. II it retains the ideals
and objects with which it started out,
has no more right to further the pro-
brace the platform Of one of the politi-
cal parties.
Perfls of Partfsanxhip.
A federation committee was recently
appointed to study and report on the
the Pennsylvania Federation and now an
honorary president 1 expected to be con-
suited as to the anti-suffrage members Of
this committee. 1t would have been cour-
teous to do this: also 1t would have been
In harmony with the federation's long
stand for nonpartisanship. Ye: am in
formed that the committee appointed to
study suffrage comprises only suf-
fragists! On this principle, President
Wilson should forthwith appoint a COM
mittee of our Mexican citizens to study"
and decide how we shall deal with
Huerta.
If the federation adopts sufrragism, it
might as well tell its members that they
must indorse feminism, socialism, or
atheism. or become Catholics, Protestants, |
Jews, Democrats, or Republicans. 1t |
means chaos and reversion to the very
conditions of restricted organization and |
limitation Of opportunity to women that |
the federation was formed to GUST 1t |
means that women of Pennsylvania, who |
possess the very instrument of |
real power in government that Mrs |
Humphry Ward is working SO hard to |
obtain for English women, are willing to |
this important tool, with |
which We have accomplished SO much |
'on behalf Of women and children" at |
the dictation OF a frenzied minority, who |
would rather have US Amazons on cleo |
ton day than sponsors Of constructive |
legislation throughout the year.
Majority Is Sane.
We cannot be both. The very fact that |
gained more influence over legislation |
han organizations of party, ism or creed |
mas been due to its nonparlisanship. This