New-York tribune., 1920-02-18
Miss Hay and Mrs. Bass In
vitie Delegates to Chicago
Convention to Enroll in
Their Respective Camps
Fund of SIS, 900 Raised
Mrs. E. Louis Slade, of New
York, Elected One of the
Seven Regional Directors
By Emma Bugbee

The temptation to make \ party plea
before the convention, which represents
100000 women and members among
Its leaders many of the most infuen-
tial women in the country, was too
great for the spokcsmen of the Re-
publican and Democratic parties. Both
Miss Mary Garrett Hay and Mrs.
George Bass forgot the injunction of
the chairman, Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait, not to talk politics." and In their
speeches on the subject SHOULD women
an invitation to the women to enroll
In their respective parties.
"Get into the parties. Get into any
party-the Prohibition, the Socialist
anything you want-even the Demo-
cratic party, 1 don't care what party
you get into. Yes, do, too. Get into
the Republican party" was all the non
partisanship of which Miss Mary Car
rett Hay was capable, as chairman Of
the executive committee Of tho
women's committee Of the National Re-
publican Committee.
Plea for League
Mrs George Bass, chairman Of the
Won ems National Democratic Commit
LSC, WCllt Vic oISV Lux tlcG anQ luJcCtcO
a plea for the league Of nations into
her speech. This matter was later re-
ferred to the board of directors, and
the convention was spared several hours
of bitter debate The story of how all
this happened follows.
Mrs. Bass's suggestion that tho
league of nations was one of the is
sues on which women would be united
in the coming Presidential election was
OBJ IN, <1a lbs >c
mornings program. The pioneer lunch
eon.had the right of way for the noon
hour, and by the time half dozen suf-
frage veterans had told delightful
STORIES of how Susan B. Anthony
washed dishes and rocked their babies
to sleep, and how Mrs. Gait when she
first came into the suffrage ranks had
eurls like Mary Pickford's, and after
they had presented Mrs. Gait, as the
last president of the National Woman
Suffrage Association, with magnih-
cent sapphire set of diamonds, and
everybody mad laughed and cried; after
all that. somehow. they hadn't the heart
forspoht.cal dispute. Mrs. Gait retired,
iea{ing the chair to Miss Hay, and that
competent person had all further de-
bate on political matters referred to
the board Of directors. And SO all was
peace in the ranks. Moreover, Miss
Hay and Mrs. Bass shook hands in full
view Of the entire convention.
Mhs. Gait, as a member of the Wom-
ems League of Nations committee, and
Miss Hay, too, signed the petition Of
that committee asking the Senate to
come to an agreement on the league Of
nations with reservations).
"Get Into PARTIES" Its Slogan
Mrs. Bass said in her speech that If
the league were not ratified by the time
OF the fall elections it would have to
0e plank in the platform of at least
one party.
The league of nations as at present
conceived may not be a perfect instru-
ment," she said, but we cannot afford
10 wait for perfection. We must safe
guard the world from the horrible, de-
vastating influences of war such as we
have just experienced"
Mrs. Bass also advocated two other
p!anks Tor the women's platform-the
dem ocratlzation of industry and the
safeguarding of health.
The most valuable contribution to
the Presidential election will be the
tremendous earnestness Of the women
as they cast their first votes," she said.
omen Will not inherit traditional
party loyalty. The party that commands
their votes must have the germ of liv-
ing, vital issues, not merely the recol-
AectlOn OF past virtues.
I'm local politics women do not be-
meve In drawing party lines at all.
Here III Chicago we are voting for
aldermen on d non-partisan basis this
spring We have entirely changed the
complexion of the Chicago City Council,
so that now the parties dare not put up
an old-fashioned Republican or an old
fashioned partisan Democrat. They
know he could not be elected.
IN national politics, however, women
reaize that there are great questions
at stake. upon which the nation must
divide. | believe that the Democratic
party IS the most pliable instrument
Tor the sctt .ement of these problems
therefore, ask you to enroll in the
Democratic party
The convention accepted "get into
the parties as its official slogan for
the coming year upon resolution in
grcduced by Miss Rose Young, of New
York
Directors to Select Platform
MISS Hay warned the women that If
Shey AID not get into the parties and
would. W
ut is the strangest thing in the
world" she said, that those women
VINO never wanted to vote at all. now
fhey have had the vote given them.
want TO hold all the offices and do ali
the work At least that is true in nv
state, New York"
The League of Woman Voters will
present its demands to the political
parties at the time Of the sprinq con.
yentlons. Its platform, as outlined at
the convention to-day, includes the re-
FORM measures which were adopted yes.
'erday as the working program for the
coming year. They are in six sections
Including American citizenship. child
welfare, protection of women in in
dustry. food supply and demand, socia
hygiene and the unification Of laws con
cerning women
This resolution as to tho leaure',
platform was adopted on motion of
Mrs. Gait:
"The board Of directors Of the Learn.
Of Women Voters shall select from the
six adopted programs for legislative
action those national needs which
might appropriately be included In
party platfoa<ns. and deputation from
the League of Women Voters shall at
tend the' conventions Of the two domi-
nant parties to present this program ,
The sum of $4,000 was raised to
carry on the years work. OF this sum
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