The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-08

the solons that the audience Kissed Most
of those present enjoyed this hugely.
But there was group present. headed
by Mrs Nora Batch and by Mrs. Ella
NJ. Sherwin, the latter president Of the
Womens League for Equal Opportunity,
which holly opposes the women's joint
legislative programme on the ground
that 1t will keep women from getting
good jobs. and though they kept silent
while Mrs. Whitehouse spoke they made
up for their abstinence In the latter half
OF the meeting.
Bedlam broke loose wnen Mrs. Laid
law offered some resolutions in favor
Of the womeu's measures and asked for
vote. Mrs. Blatch sprang up and
shrieked for recognition.
Now, Mrs De Forest" soothed Mrs.
Laidlaw, meaning Mrs. Blatch, who is
generally called Mrs. De Forest though
she recently married an engineer named
Barney. but wishes to be called by her
mothers name. Mrs Blatch. which I'M
deniably Is complicated. but never mind.
one often runs into such things at meet
ings OF new women-"Now, Mrs DE
Forest. you will be recognized for dis
cussion after the next speaker. Mr.
Aeram ]. Elkus. has talked. He has to
ca tch a train or something and we cant
keep him waiting. / have already put
the question and can't recognize YOU
now"
IF you are demanding free discussion
on the floor Of the Legislature OF these
bills the least you can grant liz free dis
cussim here" shrieked Mrs. Batch
above the thump OF Mrs. Laidlaw's
gavel. But with despatch which the
league for equal opportunists called
steam rollering, and her friends described
as her own efficient way. Mrs. Laidlaw
put the resolutions to a vote and Sc
cured their passage against the loud
'noes' OF the opponents
Il have never seen such discourtesy ="
painted Mrs. Laidlaw, but Mr.. Elkus
wasn't bit grateful to her for giving
him right of way. He said he wished
the discussion had come first, evidently
anxious to enjoy the row. And It was
hot row when It came, Immediately
after Mrs Maud Swartz of the Women's
Trade Union League had served notice
on the Legislature that II they didn't
know the world was rocking American
workers did know It, and the laws now
before them were the very least those
workers would demand. and the solons
had better look out or they would never
be returned ITO those nice cushioned
chairs in which they sit and do about
one hours work a day
Challenged to joint Debate.
lenged the Women's Joint Legislative
Conference to debate with the
Women's League for Equal Opportuni-
ties. and Mrs. Laidlaw retorted Hire a
hall" Next a fat gentleman rose and
attacked the health insurance bill, and
was In turn attacked by a thin man
who said the fat one was a Quack doctor
afraid OF losing some fees, whereupon
the fat one said the trim one probably
never paid a doctors bill in his life. and
both proceeded to break Mrs. Laidlaw's
rule of one minute only for each speaker,
never mindlng the frantic pounding of
her gavel.
Mrs Batch commended that protective
labor laws for women would result in
their being pushed out of industry, but
she didn't more than get started in her
argument before slam went the gavel, to
the great indignation of her side. So II
went on. for and against, but the crisis
happened when John Boyl of the Brook
Ign Central Federated Labor Union de-
nounced the opposition TO the bills at
Albany as grossly dishonsst. and shook
his fist at Mrs Sherwin and called the
league for equal opportumists creatures
Of the bloated monopolists, who have al
ways opposed enlightened labor iegisla-
ton.
THAT Is false-foully false" yelled
Mrs Sherwin. who is n large woman and
not TO be lightly regarded in an argu-
ment and then-Mrs Lajdlaw ALL the
time pounding her gavel harder and
harder-Miss Hilda Swenson OF the
Women's Trade Union League added
fuel TO the fre.
Mrs. Sherwin says she objects TO
bills that discriminate in favor OF
women" she cried. Il was In Albany
and was near man from the Western
Union who came to oppose bills for the
betterment of hours and wages for both
men and women. and the womens
League for Equal Opportunities took
him right to their bosom"
It was then that Mrs. Sherwin. who is
| said to be a typesetter by profession.
pied proceedings SO completely that even
Mrs. Laidlaw's gsvel couldn't make
sense out OF them
The resolutions which were passed
served notice on the Republican party
that II the women's Legislative pro-
gramme failed TO get action in the Leg
| islature the women would hold that
nv ncih 10 ~ 20