Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-04
TESTIMONIAL LUNCHEON
Mise Elizabeth Brownell Collier Cham
piOns I<nrue M yonncu voters

Mise Elizabeth BrownelI Collier Cham
pions L-engue Of Women voters
Although 100 loyal and enthusiastic
women supporters of Miss Elizabeth
Browneil Collier. vice-chairman Of the
republican county committee, cheered her
to the echo at tho testimonial luncheon
rendered her yesterday afternoon by the
18th A. d. Women's Republican club. at
Acme hail. says Sundays Brooklyn
Eagle. 1.-THE occasion marked lively tilt
betwecen Miss Collier and Commissioners
Livingston on the wisdom Of non-partisan
organization. particularly the League OF
Women Voters. The commissioner came
out fat-footed against the league, and
Miss Collier as strongly defended nom
partisan organizations Miss Bertha Irish.
president Of the club and toastmistress
foi the luncheon. also defended the
league. and the women enthusiastically
supported the two women. giving Mr.
Livingston polite applause at the close
of his speech.
Acting Mayor La Guardia spoke In
praise OF Miss Golfers work In his
campaign, saying: Miss Collier stands
for principle and that is why We stand
for Miss Collier He also spoke against
the repea! Of the direct primary law
while Commissioner Livingston spoke
against even a modification OF II. This
the women applauded vigorously.
L have found Miss Collier painstak-
ing. punctcal effectual and untiring, said
Commissioner Livingston. She and I do
not always agree politically. We had
heated discussion Just now, and am not
yet converted to the League OF Women
Voters. I can see no consistency in
partisanship and non partisanshV at the
same time, and IL their objects are as
stated they are not doing the Republican
party any good. II the women sit back
and take what the men give them.
politically, 1t ia their own fault. Leaders
cannot be made by legislation. II is a
mistake to sexualye any political party
Women must go into the primaries and
win IL She can. Independence outside Of
the party lines Is never successful. You
can never bring about reforms by nom
partisan orgnniza tons
Miss Collier II, making her reply to
Mr. Livingston said. in part: Commits
sioner Livingston and I are working for
the same end. the good of our country.
The party is one of the great educational
forces. To make tho Republican party
we must got the best people and keep
them actively working. I felt a strange
sort of confusion when I saw on each
race before me a speech you wanted to
make in reply to some of the things said
You thought of n democratic governor
and the son of great republican agree-
ing on minimum wage bill, and you saw
back OF them non-partisan body of
women standing for principle and not in
dividuals. The trouble is there are not
enough women who think for themselves
I'VE have two dangers to face: Radi-
nctt In, r;n
the re-actionaries with progressive doc
trnes but we can do little against radi-
calism. still greater danger is the mob
spirit in politics l mean that spirit that
drives all the people to think the same
way suddenly. 1t is a mob Of silk-petti-
coated. wel-groomed people who want
to cling together to vote on the winning
side. Teach them to think. make them a
part of the party. 1t Is dangerous for
party 20 carry d weak candidate. Party
loyalty is to think early what is good for
the party We must save the party from
making mistakes.
Lewis Pounds and Mrs. Walter A.
Damrosch spoke in praise of Miss Col
lier and her work for the county. After
Miss Golfers speech Controller Travis
and members Of the 18th A. D. Republican
club gave greetings to the guest Of hon.
or. The women applauded loudly, some
times breaking into cheers at every NEIL
ton of Miss Golfers work. principle be-
fore party the direct primary. indirect
illusions to the Wadsworth fight, re-ac-
tionaries and League of Nations"
Miss Collier is niece OF c. w. Brown
ell of this city and S. A. Brownel Of Es-
sex Junction. She was a student at the
University Of Vermont and is a member
of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Though she is a staunch republican, her
chief interest In politics is in connection
with welfare bills,-securing better liv-
ing conditions for working women and
for children.