Evening star., 1916-05-07
WOMEN'S EFFORTS
NEEDED IN FIGHT
Speakers SO Discuss Retire
ment Before Association of
Civil Service Employees.
MORE AUxILIARIES FOR
ORGANIZATION URGED
Representative Keating Says Uncle
Sam Is Sure to Care for Aids
Sooner or Later.

SOVAC1 VI &kdtVAs
Effective work which can be done by
the women of the country in the work
for civil service retirement legislation
was pointed out yesterday afternoon by
officers OF the women's auxiliaries OF the
civil service organizations to the con-
vention of the National Association of
Civil Service Employees. Practically the
entire afternoon was given over to the
women. the only other proceedings
being an address by Representative
Keating of Colorado strongly indorsing
the activities of the employees. brief
executive session during which the per
capita tax was increased. and the cleo
ton of officers. The convention came to
an end shortly before : o'clock.
The officers of the auxiliaries made
earnest pleas for the formation of
branch auxiliaries in all parts of the
country. They complained that not
enough interest was being shown by
the men in the formation of the auxili-
aries The general sentiment of the
fair speakers was that il more women
were enlisted in the movement retire
ment would show more speed in reach
ing the goal than ever before.
Pays Silent Tribute.
During the afternoon the conven-
| ton paused in it's business for one min
ute and paid silent tribute to the late
Representative Joseph A. Goulden OF
| New York, who. in a resolution of con-
dolence to the family. which was adopt
ed was called 1.-The father of the civil
service retirement movement in this
! country"
| In presenting the women to the con-
yention. President Mckee paid a high
tribute to them for their effective work
| in behalf of retirement, and pointed
out that they were force to be reck-
oned with. He said they had been
ment. and expressed the hope that they
would continue to work in the advance
ment of the cause.
The women are now enlisting in the
retirement moyement ven more more than han, ever ef
Rochester. N. Y, national president of
the ladies' auxiliary. National Associa-
tion of Letter Carriers. They will be
a compelling force in getting retire
ment. she said. Mrs Stein pointed out
the rigid requirements of the postal
| service, where. she said. 100 per cent
| honesty, accuracy and punctuaiity Is re-
quired of the employees, and called to
the attention of the convention the
pension their postal servants. Even the
| railroads. she continued, pension their
worn-out employees. Even Europe al
| war is pensioning an army of mothers
and children.
But we. the wives of letter carriers
and mothers of children. are striving
along day by day with nothing to look
forward to but pay day. We want
retirement. We are not asking for
charity. but merely a small pay day
a lifetime of service.
IF there is any service that l can
give to help in this great cause. just
call on me. Tell US how we can help
do everything to further the cause"
Women's Work Essential.
1t is just as essential for the womer
to work for the cause as it is for the
men, said Mrs. Alice Mcconnell ol
Buffalo, N Y. national vice president
of the same organization. She com.
)plained of the lack OF workers. and
urged that the men go back to theil
home cities and organize ladies' aux
iliaries
I'VE haven't enough auxiliaries," She
said. How does II come that any
one isblind to the need of auxiliaries:
Where does the blame lie? believe
that it lies just little bit with the
men. The men read of the work Of
the auxiliaries in their service paper.
and they certainly could start the for.
nation of an auxiliary by getting theil
wives interested.
| Again" she continued some womer
say that they haven't time. They sa,
they belong to so many clubs and or
ganizations. But are these clubs goins
Working for Retirement.
She said the ladies' auxiliaries of the
National Association of Letter Car
riers was working for retirement in al
branches of the service. If the bill fol-
indefinite leave of absence for gov
ernment employees is passed tomorrow
she said. the letter carriers will worl
for the other employees to obtain som,
form of retirement, and so will the aux
iliaries.
THE letter carriers will not forsak,
you," she said. I'VE are working fol
any and every bill that will give u.
something to work upon. We will sup
port any pension measure"
The time has come when woman'i
work counts for more than it ever die
before. said Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston O
Columbus. Ohio. national secretary O.
I tne CdrTleTS Cnc
the work of the national auxiliary ant
told of the effective work which is be
ing done by it. All the time, 1t ha.
been working under the mems organ
izatfon, she continued. and nothing is
done which does not have the approva
of the mems organization. She sale
that the auxiIiaries were effective ir
sending out letters to create sentiment
and pointed out that the women man,
times prompted men to send appeals a.
the proper time to various bodies ir
favor of retirement.
Work Held More Effective.
Some men do not realize, she said
that women's work is more effective
in large orga nizat tions than that of tn.
men. Even in the small bodies they
are effective. too. for in some auxiliaries
of seven or eight members, she point
ed out. many of the women belong ts
republican and democratic clubs ant
WELD great influence. She concluded
by saying that the auxiliary was IL
favor of the Hamill bill or any othel
. measure that gives retirement.
Mrs. Andrew E. Thresher and Mrs
: Myron Newton. president and secre
, tary, respectively. of the Providence
r. l.. local of the ladies' auxiliary o.
the National Association of Civil Serv
ice Employees, addressed the conven.
. tion. Both spoke of the work OF thu
Providence organization.
, Mrs. Alice Kraft, temporary nationa
president of the ladies' auxiliary, Ma