New-York tribune., 1919-03-26
Non.Pariisanship Of New
Organization Demanded
in Proposal TO Prohibit
Official Endorsements
No Limit on individuals
Federal Amen d M emit Is
Supported Again and
Old Officers Are Retained


ST. LOUIS, March 25.-A league Of
women voters urged by Mrs. Carrie
CHAPMAN Gait, president Of the Ma
t;onal American " oman Suffrage Asso-
eiasion, and recommended by the exec
ufiye council, viii come before the an
rnal convention tomorrow for final
action, its supporters tonight declar-
ing there would be scarcely any oppo-
s;tion. The recommendation was taken
nm late this afternoon, but a final vote
was postponed until tomorrow.
That the league is to be non-p par
.isan was assured by the adoption Of
recommendation containing reso-
luton stating that the rational asso-
cjation shall not affiliate with any
politcal party nor indorse the plat
form Of any party nor support or OPP
nose any political candidates unless
such action shall be recommended by
the board of directors The resolu-
tion however. does not limit the lib
erty of action of any member as an
individual.
When the recommendation that the
association continue to support and
indorse the Federal amendment which
has been pending before Congress for
forty years came up Miss Laura NJ.
Clay, a delegate from Kentucky, OBJ
jected She proposed that certain sec
tions be amended, with particular ref
erence to those parts that would per-
nit enfranchlsement of negro women
Of the South.
With three delegates voting mo"
the convention voted to support the
amendment in the original form, but
the congressional committee was au
n io+n o1,
wording
Centennial Celebration Planned
Other recommendations were adont-
ed, including one providing for the
next convention to be held IN Febru-
airy. 1920, as a centennial celebration
Of the birthday Of Susan B. Anthony.
Women of the twenty-six states
that have been granted the vote adopf-
ed resolution urging the Missouri
state Legislature to pass the Senate
bill which would grant suffrage To
Missouri women.
Summing up the work Of the asso-
cation for the last fifteen mouths he
lore the convention TO-DAY, Mrs. Frank
J. Shuiers corresponding secretary. do
ciared that In the last fifty wears there
mas never been q time when the suffra-
gists had so much reason to rejoice
Tor victories chronicled all over the
world and for the favorable attitude Of
the United States press. as evinced bv
tne steady growth of editorial support.
Our suffrage year." she said. .shas
seen the 1ull franchise won by women
Of Oklahoma, Michigan and South Da-
kota; Presidential suffrage granted in
Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Maine; primary suffrage in Texas and
municipal suffrage in some charter
toms. 1t has seen the Federal amend
msnt go through the House. Even the
reactionary body-the United States
Senate-showed some progress.n
She pointed out that the Federal
amendment had been indorsed by TWEEN
ty-one Democratic state conve ntions
and twenty Republican state conven-
tons
First Full Days Session
This was the first full days session
OF the convention following the formal
opening last night Mrs. Gait. presi-
dent, and Mrs. Stanley Mccormick.
hrst vice. president, shared the duties
Of the presiding officer. About 800
women were present.
Business parts of to-day's programme
we're in charge of Miss Mary Garrett
Hay, chairman of local arrangements;
Mrs. Henry Wade Rogers, chairman on
CREDENTIALS; Mrs. Shuler and Mrs. j. p.
higgins, chairman on elections.
Among the recommendations made
t5y the executive council were that the
rudget for 1919 as presented by Mrs.
henry Wade Rodgers. treasurer, con-
slsting Of S12G000 If the voters league
Is formed, and 100000 if the voters
league IS rot formed. be recommended
as the budget for the ensuing year,
aac that the SIX war service commi