South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-13
CLUB WOMEN
PLAN INFLUENCE
ON LEGISLATURE
Map Out Program of Measures
to be ESpouSed Dur
ing Session.

enty women, delegates representing
seven statewide organizations. are TO
meet in Indianapolis Thursday to
decide the legislative program for
which the Legislative Council Cf
Women's clubs Will work in the gen
eral assembly now in session.
Already the legislative council is
on the job at the state house, where
Mrs Edward Franklin White. Of In
dianapolis president, with her as
sistants. is organizing the club wom
ems lobby. Realizing the impor-
lance OF the woman suffrage work
With the present legislature, sepa-
rate headquarters have been opened
ia the capitol for the suffrage work,
hich will be under the direction of
the Woman's Franchise League of
Indiana, Of which Mrs. Richard Ed
wards, Of Peru. is president Both
Mrs White and Mrs. Edwards were
on the job when the legislature
opened last Thursday and vii be
ready 10 make a report Of prospects
10 the conference next Thursday.
Among the projects which Will
have the support of the legislative
council, woman suffrage probably
stands first There is now pending
hefore the legislature a constitu-
tional amendment which would give
Indiana women the ballot There
has been some discussion as 10 pol
icy on the women's part, if there
is an attempt made TO kill this
amendment and resubmit it. to-
gether with other constitutional
amendments now urged by Coy.
James p. Goodrich. Just what pol
icy the women will follow in this
will be one OF the important ques-
tons decided in the approaching
conference
Drive for Ratification.
10 is certain, however. if the
United states senate passes the
woman suffrage amendment now
pending in that BODY, the women
Will make a determined drive to
have Indiana be the first state in
the union to ratify the national
amendment.
Also. it is certain that the women
will have introduced in this legisla-
ture a bill granting women the right
TO vote for presidential electors. IL
is admitted that the legislature has
the power to extend this right to
vote TO the women. The state con-
stitution says nothing about the
qualifications for voters for presi-
Dental electors for the reason that
the United States constitution pro-
vides that qualifications for voters
N this particular shall be fixed by
the state legislature. IL is too early
TO make positive assertions on pros
poets. but the women do not hest
tate TO say that they are hopeful
that the presidential suffrage bill
will encounter no material hostility
an either the lower or upper house.
il is certain the legislative council,
organized 70 look out for the inter-
ests OF women and children in leg
islative matters. is favorable to the
proposition of "all time health of
icers." whether or not the bill pro-
posed by the state health authorities
will meet the full approval of the
council Will not be known until the
conference next Thursday reports
on the bill.
Want Protection"
Among the recommendation in
the governors message, none has
met a more enthusiastic approval
than the recommendation for a law
protecting women in industry. The
legislative council will have an in
terest in this legislation and it will
be held, in importance, only second
to the suffrage measures. The Fed
GRAFTON Of Woman's Clubs is prepar-
ing the bill. Ii is known that sew
eral of the leaders in the federation
are determined that the bill drafted
for the protection OF women in in
dustry shall have teeth" that it
shall be more than 50 much Ian
guage and shall afford real protec-
ton. In this subject the W. G. T. L.
OF Indiana, led by its state president,
Mrs. Culla J. Nayhinger. of Upland,
will take a lively interest and will
reinforce the efforts of the Fedora
lion OF Womans clubs.
1t is taken for granted that the
women Will do their part in getting
the present session TO ratify the ma
tional prohibition amendment. If
that action has not been taken by
the time the state conference meets.
Another warranted assumption, since
the legislative council is on record
favorable 10 the project. is that the
women will do their best 10 aid the
movement for such action on the
part OF the legislature as viii put up
10 the people Of Indiana in the next
election whether or not they desire /
constitutional convention.
Prior 10 the general conference /
next Thursday. four OF the seven |
womens Organizations making up |
the legislative council viii hold I
meetings in Indiana polls TO arrive T.
al their policies. The Woman's I.
Press club OF the state meets Tues /
day, as does the executive board OF
the Franchise league: wednesday 4
viii be held the midwinter meeting /
OF the Indiana Federation Of Clubs, /
and "Wednesday night the trustees /
Of the state W. c. T. L. hold their I
meeting All of these Gin have q |
bearing on tie result OF the legis- /
lative council meeting on Thursday. 1
Have Steering Committee.
Such bills as are approved by tie 4
l. gislative council IL its conference 4