The Washington herald., 1920-02-15
WOMEN JUMP
into POLITICS,
DEFYING men
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait
Voices Determination to
Be Active Force.
WANT TO BE, INSIDE"
Sufragists Signalize Alb
sorption in Feminine
Voters League.
WANT TO BE, INSIDE"


the political ring with both feet.
They served notice on the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties that
the suffragists cannot be consid-
cred as a ladies auxiliary" They
declared they had been knocking
at the door" for sixty years and
now they are going to be on the
inside.
The outline of the future poll
cies of the suffrage workers of the
country was made by Mrs. Carrie
Chapman Gait at the first congress
of the. League of Women Voters.
The National Suffrage Association
voted to dissolve. now that its OBJ
jects were practically accomplished,
and merge its membership with
the women's voters league.
Mrs. Gait. Temporary chairman of
the league in a declaration of
policies announced the women
were going toi be something more
than a me too" organization. Her
statements met with vociferous ap-
provaf from the 500 delegates.
He,d~A far s.Tu.ta. -
Women jumped on chairs. threw
their hats and coats into the air
and yelled themselves hoarse when
she said:
I'VE are not going to remain
on the outside and make applica-
tion to the political parties for
their favor. What would be the
use of getting the vote IL we should
do so? The only way to get things
in this country is to get them on.
the inside of political party,
Mrs. Gait cited as an instance OF
the uselessness of the vote IL not
exercized through party organiza-
ton. the efforts to obtain ratifica-
tion of the suffrage amendment in
some Western States whero women
were allowed to vote.
Couldn't Force Action.
The women in these States had
not become allied with a political
party" she said. ''As a result,
when we attempted to induce gov
ernors of these States to call spe-
cial sessions of the legislatures to
ratify the Federal amendment we
had no machinery with which to
work. We couldn't force calling of
the special sessions. This will hap
pen in the future unless women
get into the partisan political
game"
The speaker asserted that wom-
en- must now prove their capacity
in political work. and you will
not prove 1t II you simply o. X.
the program prepared by the men,"
Mrs. Gait said the league would be
a ''semi-political. non-partisan organ
ization."
"Only one man in twenty-five will
understand how we can carry out
such a program, btu we will be able
to do it," she said.
We aren't going to be cutters and
stay on the outside and let the re-
dictionaries hahveh it their own way
on the inside. where the men are, but
that is the 'place we are going.
IF we are going to trail five years
Behind the parties, we might as well
quit now. We must be FIVE years
ahead"
Political Tinge Pronounced.
Mrs. Cats address was made at the
conclusion of a session in which eff
forts were made to outline a new
for the organization. At
tempts by several delegates to get a
motion through that it would be non
partisan" failed.
The convention was on its no
.Htical high horse" following an oot-
break. started when Mrs.. Richard
Edwards, of Indiana. introduced a
resolution thonking Will III. Hays,
Republican national chairman, for
his work in the interset Of suffrage
The Democras protected siren
uousfy until Mrs. Edwards. in order
u. keep peace in the convention, ~
troduced another resolution thank
ing Homer s. Cummings, Democratic
chairman.
Tie Republican leaders claimed a
technical victory. tonight. however.
due to the fact that the Hays reso-
luton was long and fioH-ery. while
the Cummings resolution consisted
OF about three lines.
The suffrage organization held i.s
last meeting 'cnight. 1t was tnbi-
iation banquet In celebration OF .hc
.>fe:;ed ratihes,ion Of the Federal
a;re rrent.
Memorial services will be lid IN
the Chicago ,burches tor .rrow IN
homer G: DR.. Anna Huwat1 Shaw.
NJ = -