Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-28

Yesterday at Rehoboth, at the lsst
meeting Of the executive board of the
Delaware Equal suffrage Association,
which automatically bccnnes the Del
aware League Of Women Voters through
the ratification Of the suffrage amend
mcnt, the women decided 70 bold the
first meeting Of the League proper at the
Hotel du Pont in Wilmington the latter
part of September. II is expected to
keep intact the body Of the suffrage or
ganization, irrespective Of political Iean-
ings Judging from the spirit of genuine
comradsship shown when the gathering
later separated into two groups, Dem
ocratic and Republican, in order to map
out plans for active party organixa-
ton work, the women expect 70 retain
their suffrage determination. There wae
some good-humored chatting occarioned
by the desire of one or two women 20
keep "on the fence" and not q small
bit Of sentiment Mt this parting "of the
ways" was noticeable though the mem
bers may be expected TO stand as q
unit in any future political contingency
involving the candidacy Of men OF doubt
full caliber
One woman declared that TO actively
support her political preference almost
meant social ostracism IN hsr neighbor-
hood. Another said il meant more hard
work than she could carry. In the end.
however both put thspselves on ~cord
politically
The women are really in q delemma
concerning party organir alton. Time is
too short for any systematic survey Of
the woman voting power in the state,
consequently the leaders must accept
the compromise position afforded by
the invitation from the political leaders
among the men 10 be associate members
Of the party committees This affords
restricted participation in the presidential
campaign, but inasrnuch as most of The
new voters are totally inexperienced in
politics, and are even unregistered, u u
the only solution Of the problem.
The division into Republican and
Democratic gatherings showed about
equal strength There are experienced
suffrage leaders enough on both sides 70
furnish capable leadership for the
women. The Democratic Committee has
already invited several women to serve
as members Of It's organization and The
Republican, committee has a plan for
active participation Of women in its
campaign. BY next wreck both sides VIII
have full array of feminine talent in the
, field The personel Of the women par
ticipanss Is high, including the most prom
/ inent ciub-wornen Of Delaware, and women
/ affiliated with civic movements II the
/ plans for district and ward organixs-
/ tlons hold the old-line politicians zrll
have 20 furbish up considerably IN order
| to show good form.
I While the choice If the new political
/ timber IS being carefully studied, there
/ are one or two cases where first-hand
1 refusals Of position have been converted
/ into acceptance. One sush case gives
! 70 the Democratic party the influence
! of a prominent new Castle woman
/ The poIiticsi choice Of the suffrage
I leaders ls being observed, especially
with reference TO two weiI-snown women.
one b Democrat, the other Republican.
Both are expected 70 make a political
changA
The Influence of the suffrage campaign
is still TOO fresh in the minds OF some Of
the leaders 20 entirely forget past kriev-
ances. The majority, however, have put
old scores behind them, and are ready 20
work. when needed. This attitude IS
much to the credit OF those women who
desire party affiliation, rather than q
separate woman's party.
At the closing morning session OF the
suffragisrs, letters were read, sent 70
Governor Townsend, Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait, Mrs. Martha Cranston, Henry
Z. Isaacs and Charles Warner, those to
the last two named thanking them for
their cooperation and speaking before
the body.
The following resolutions were recon-
mended by the executive meeting.
Resolved, that the Delaware Equal
Suffrage Association shall become the
Delaware League of Women Voters.
Resolved that, believing there shouid
be no sex in politics, We maintain there
should be no separate party for women
voters. We favor working with and
through the present political parties but
we believed the voter should reserve
independence of Judgment and action
and refue TO be governed by partisan con-
siderations when they conflict with the
best interests of the state.
Eve demand clean elections and clean