New-York tribune., 1920-02-10
Women Voters
To Crusade for
Clean Politics
Leagne, Opening National
Convention Friday, Urged
to Work for Educated
and Embossed Electorate
May Be Final Gathering
Suffrage Leaders Believe
Ratification Will Be Fin
ished by Pledged States

The part that women are to take IN
the Presidential election and the
question of what woman shalt be the
national president of the League Of
Women Voters arc the two problems
which confront the sutfragists who
are gathering in Chicago this week sop
their annual convention
Many New York delegates departed
for Chicago yesterday, although the
convention does not open officially
until Friday.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, presi-
dent of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association. in a final state
ment issued before she left the city,
announced new crusade for women,"
whose object is to make the American
electorate educated, Embossed and
loyal"
Mrs. Cstt's Appeal to Voters
Mrs. Cats call to the league
follows:
"Arse. women voters of East and
West, and North and South, in this
your union together, strong of heart,
fearless Of spirit let the nation hear
YOU pledge all that you have and all
that you are to Few crusade-a cru
sade that shall not end until the
electorate of the republic IS intelli-
gent, clean and loyal
The tsSst week of the convention
will be to devise & legislative program
for the league, in which tie policy Of
the organization for the campaign will
be outlined. What shall ~-e ask of
political parties. and wha. shall we do
for political parties is the question
Tor debate. The problems of citizen
ship. women in industry, child welfare
and the high cost OF living will be taken
up in relation to the platforms of
political parties.
When the questions have been set
lied as to what the leagues platform
shall be. then will come the task of
iinding leader for the new crusade.
Mrs. Gait has refused to consider her
self a candidate for the new organiZa-
ton, as she will be busy winding up
the affairs of the mother organization
and with the international convention
of suffragists in Spain. Mrs. Charles
5. Brooks, of Kansas, president of the
League of Women Voters, is not cam
lidate for reelection.
Home Ties Bar Mrs. Gellhorn
rhe woman who had been picked by
h. organization leaders to head the
.eague, Mrs. George Gellhorn, OF st.
Louis, president of the Missouri
league of Women Voters, failed them
yesterday by announcing that she felt
aer first duty was to her four little
children at home, and that she could
rot accept an Office which would re
mire her to travel about the country
great deal.
That leaves in the running Mrs.
i-ercy V. Penny backer, OF Texas, who
IS strong Democrat, and Miss Mary
stanch Republican. 1t is not believed
that party woman could be elected.
Therefore, the first business of the
suffrage leaders on reaching Chicago
wll be hunting for clark horse"
The suffragists will advise all women
10 enroll with a political party and to
vote in the Presidential election. but
they do not think it advisable TO nave
he organization. beaded by q women
Of strong partisan prejudices.
The convention will devote two days
to the memory of two of its greatest
leaders, Susan B. Anthony and Anna
Howard Shaw. The Tooth anniversary
OF the birth of Miss Anthony occurs on
Sunday, February Is. but precedence
IL the ceremonies will be given 20 DR..
Shaw. who died last summer. The
Shaw memorial will be held on Sunday
and the Anthony centennial on TeNt
Monday.
This may be the last suffrage con-
gention held in the United States. The
sufragists expect to appoint re
ceiver" for the details of completing
ratification and to go out of business
after tifty-one years of work. sd. 5. c.
certificates will be issued to the women
who have led the crusade at pioneer
luncheon" to be held on Tuesday.
Ratification Nearly Complete
Mrs. Gait in her statement yester-
day announced that two Eastern Gov
ernors, of states not mentioned "for
reasons of diplomacy" had consented
10 call special sessions for purpose OF
ratification. This will account for the
necessary thirty-siN states. Twenty
eight have actually ratified, three more,
Mrs Gait said, are pledged Idaho, New
Mexico and Arizona), New Jersey is
expected 10 ratfy this week and Okla
homa and Washington being suffrage
states are counted on to swell the total.
The New York delegation at Chicago
will be led by Miss Hay. who is chair