Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-29
DELAWARE LEAGUE
Continued from page l

Evening reporter. Mrs. Johnson saiu,
"The sentiment and passion now swayine
women everywhere is certain 10 concen-
trate into an enduring increasing ald 70
home life through political channels
Women are much more independant than
mon. They may be expected to scrato .
many a political ticket. They arc proving
very careful in their choice Of chairmcn
in organization work, and are demonstrat-
ing again tho fitness for organization
work they displayed during tho war:
Among the out-of-town women IN at
tendance are the following: Mrs. Henry
Ridgely, Mrs. A. b. Richardson, Mrs.
w. Watson Harrington, Mrs. Walter
Miflin and Miss Winifrcd Morris all OF
Dover; Mrs. w. Harman Reynolds,
Townsend. Miss Lyla Townsend, Selby-
vile; Mrs. Willard Morse, Seaford; Mrs
Harry Mayer, Dover; Mrs. Clarence Pool.
Macdonough, Dean Robinson, Newark,
MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT.
Mrs. Henry Ridgcly of Dover, the presi-
dent, in opening the convention, advised
the women of the state to join the league
now and not wait until after election, as
she had heard some had been advised to
do. She said;
"Tf there is one word more than another
which has been distorted from its original
meaning which belonging as IT did To q
noble family of words has come to dwell
in the sluns that word is politics. Politics
in its widest sense is the theory and the
practice of obtaining the ends OF civil
society as perfectly as possible, the reg,ila-
ton and government Of a nation or state
for the preservation Of it's safety, peace
and prosperity. Can nothing be done to
bring this word back to it's high estate7
We have been unused 10 the word politics
applied to womens activities. Don
let us shun il because it is strange or be-
cause il has been associated with partisan
ship with group hatred and distrust, with
arguments advanced by special pleadings
for personal or party ends. Look at It
clearly-say it distinctly. Politics,
woman in Politics" and then consider
what it means.
''This is the first convention held by
nv group of women citizens Of Delaware
20 consider political questions, the first
convention Of women of the state To con-
slider, not from party standpoint but fro IN
a political standpoint the momentnus
questions before the nation and state
TODAY. Why are We so metz What can we,
as members of the Delaware League Of
Women Voters, accomplish? Why Is u
worth while TO form league Of this
character? Some Of us are Republicans,
some Democrats, some unafhliated with
| either party. Why do we need another
| organization in state already over
| weighed with politics7 The answer is
| this | have said that some Of us belong
| TO one and some 20 another political
| party. but | am sure we all, with one
| voice. acclaim that first of all We are
! American women and that no party bias
| can separate us; that we will let no parti-
| san distrust or suspicion separate us, no
1 factional jealousies enter IN when we are
working for the many things we all, re-
| gardless Of party, recognize N the needs
| az our state and nation; the needs Of her
/ citizens, the needs Of her children. As
women Of America we have special work
| To do. no party organization can make
us see party bigger than the state IL is
created 10 serve. Through the league OF
! Women Voters we may work for those
1 things IN which, as women, we are most
. deeply interested and through it the
/ womanhood Of Delaware can make its
strength felt in both the great parties.
/ Nothing in our pledge TO the league need
deter us from party affiliations, but the
fact that many Of the voters OF the state
have taken the league pledge should, and
| inevitably will deter the parties from
| advancing platforms and candidates with
out due consideration TO the political
standards we set up.
Politics does not mean. should not mean,
partisanship. ! think il is because voters
have allowed demagogues and bosses-or
special interests-to loom so big that they
| entirely obscure moral issues that the
term political argument, political measure
has come to mean TO us some partisan
argument, some speciaI interest measure
| What can we as women do TO bring poiiticS
up from its .ow estate? We can do this
We can unite in body which p.edges
itself to put patriotism first resolve
"to reserve independence Of Judgment and
action" and refuses TO let its vote bs
governed BY Partisan considerations whe
they conflict with the best interests o
government BY uniting with abody which
demands clean and competent candidate
cleanly elected" and a platform bull
not 70 attract the vote of the selfish anC
thoughtIess but TO command the suppor
of the best citizens of the State. Such
BODY. recurring such pledge, is the Leagu,
of Women Voters. II asks every woman
in the State of twenty-one years and owe
TO be member, Democrats, Republicans
independents"
The plans were discussed at a luncheon
held early this afternoon, which was really
the keynote event of the convention
Plans were outlined, the platform of tn
league was discussed and the atmospher
was clarified generally, if there had beel
any misunderstanding In regard TO tn
mission of the new organization.
While many of the women are Demo
Gratis and many are Republicans, it wa!
made clear that the organization has onl,,
one aim, and that is to work for good gov
ernment. Partisan considerations are 4
be subordinated to this thought. Will,
In convention the women will hear parti
san arguments on both sides, so that the,
may know what the aims of the two grea
parties are and what are the chief point
of difference.
There will be another session this after
noon, and tonight there will be mass
meeting in the ball room, also opel
to the public, where campaign ISSUES vii
be discussed. DR. Walter Hulhhen, presi
dent of Delaware College, will preside, ant
partisan arguments will be presented b,
Hon. Raymond Fosdick, representing th
Democratic National Committee, ans
Dr. Robert McElroy, representing tn
Republican National Committee.
The convention will conclude with
business meeting tomorrow morning.
CONVENTION WELL HANDLED.
The reception committee comprise
IL ~