New-York tribune., 1919-06-15
Million W omen
ri lam New Fight g
For Equality
Ida l'arbell and Elisabeth
Marbury at Head of Move
ment Started i'm New
York, but Covering Nation

More than twenty-five thousand busi-
ness and professional women of New
York State united yesterday for cam
paign to obtain full equality for women
in every line of work.
In ten days, it is declared, million
women viii have joined the movement,
already nationwide Behind it are Ida
NJ. Tarbell, Elisabeth Marbury and
Grace Parker.
Organization here was effected at a
meeting Of representatives of 1O2 busi-
ness and professional women's clubs,
held at the Cosmopolitan Club, Fortieth
Street and Lexington Avenue The
step was described by Miss Lena
Madesin Phillips, executive secretary
Of the organization committee, as one
Of the first in movement to establish
what will be known as the National
Federation of Business and Profess
sjonal Women. 1t is planned to hold
national convention in st. Louis July
II to Is.
The project, as outlined by Miss
Phillips, is for each state to have it's
own federation of professional and
business women's clubs. At yester-
days meeting the New York State Fed
Grafton was formed, taking in all so
cicties OF women in the business and
professional world.
Objects of Federation
a constitution was adopted, describ-
ing the objects Of the federation as
follows:
The objects of this federation shall
be TO unite organizations Of business
and professional women in order to
come to better understanding of
ttcir conditions and needs in different
So ctlOnS OF the country; to secure more
equitable treatment and just recogni-
uon for women in business and the
professions; to gather and distribute
information relative TO vocational
opportunities, and to bring about
greater solidarity of feeling among
women throughout the state"
Miss kugenia Wallace, vice chairman
Of the National Business Women's
Committee, said one Of the first OBJ
JcctiVes Of the federation will be the
opening Of all civil service positions
TO women, removing the present re-
slrctlon which prohibits women from
taxing examinations for jobs paying
more than S1,800 annually.
BY organization women can not only
attain equality, but they can bring
about sorely needed reforms" Miss
Wallace SAID. "They will rear younger
women in new business faith of full
equal competency with men. More
than that the federation can assure
these women ADEQUATE recognition and
compensation.
Organizing by Zones
BY the end of June business and
professional women in every state will
have organized. Meetings are being
, called every two or three days. Or
ganizcrs are working in carefully
zoned sections, with bases at Atlanta,
New York, Chicago, Denver and San
Francisco"
Helen Mccormick, Assistant District
Attorney II Kings County, in an ad-
dress, pointed out that present condi-
tions are not conducive to equality Of
the sexes and should De remcdied, espc-
cially in the matter of housing for in
dividual women. A chain Of women's
hotels is needed, she said She urged
the establishment Of a system of in
gpcction Of business schools. to insure
young women proper training
Miss Adeline Zachart, of the Roches-
ter business Women's Club, told Of the
work done in her city by federation
Of business and professional women.