New-York tribune., 1920-06-10
First Woman
COnv ventiOn
Orator Cheered
Mrs. Margaret McCarter, of
Kansas, Given Ovation
as She Pledges Sex to
Support Lincoln's Party
Politician and Writer
Her Constituents Stand
Ready to Fight With
the Ballot. She Declares
By Hannah Mitchell

CHICAGO, June 9.-Mrs. Margaret
Hill McCarter, Of Kansas, the first
woman to speak in an official capacity
from the speakers platform in any
national political convention in this
country to-day pledged the Republican
womanhood of America to stand be-
hind the men in upholding the party's
ideals. She told the Republican Ma
tional Committee that women are or
ganized, trained and ready for citizen
ship She was received with prolonged
cheers.
81 stand here as representative of
20,ooo,Ooo women said Mrs. McCarter
as she addressed the convention "It
marks an era in the history of Repub-
licanisms when an honor such as is
conferred upon women at this moment
is given here" she said
Women Stand Ready
Mrs. McCarter, who has been active
FOR years in Kansas politics both as a
worker and writer, was chosen by Ma
tional Chairman viii II. Hays as
member of the Republican Women's
National Executive Committee in 1918,
to advise with The Republican National
Committee. Her message, delivered to-
day from the speakers platform, was
that women stand ready at the polls to
battle for the ideals of the party of
Lincoln. She said:
II want to speak only one word for
the women of America. We are or
ganized, we are trained, we are ready
for the duties of citizenship. We stand
Loyalty by the party inaugurated by
Abraham Lincoln-the party of liberty
and life, of loyalty and love; the party
that has never failed in its loyalty to
the good old Stars and Stripes. Its
banner has been Old Glory waving
above-the crimson of our sunsets, the
blue of our June skies, the white of
our eternal SHOWS are gathered into
that banner, which the women of Amer
lea must follow if we would have the
strength and power and sweetness and
nobility of our real government for
the people.
81 pledge you here that the woman
hood of America will not be found
wanting in unfolding the grea. Repub-
lican ideals; that as in the post we
have fought the battles, so now with
you at the great ballot box we stand
ready to fight with you that there may
be established again in our country
government that shall protect, power
that shall extend, strength that shall
build up, and that through all the com
ing years our nation with its ideals Of
Republicanism shall continue to en-
dure; that the 'Star-Spangled Banner in
friufpnb cha IL nor tho land of ho
free and the home of the brave"
The recognition of women in the
session to-day appeased to some extent
the rebuff of the leaders many felt
they received yesterday at the hands
of the rules committee.
"After ALL" said one of the women
in discussing the arrangement arrived
at whereby seven women might be
appointed to the executive committee
equal representation" on all commit
tees is merely q matter Of time. The
women in the party are still new
element. They cannot expect the same
representation men have until they
have worked longer and learned the
ways of the party more thoroughly.
They have few party traditions, and
until universal suffrage is finished
they do not represent as large a num-
Der of voters as the men do"
"HeH 1OTWeT Representative TOf-
land, of Ohio, chairman of the rules
committee, read the report of the COM
mittee this morning, he stated specih
caiiy that the seven memberships Of
the executive committee, not included
in the membership of the national
committee, would be held by women.
He said also that the new Office of
assistant secretary Of the committee
would be held by a woman, although
the report did not state so specifically.
Mrs. Frank Dodson, of Iowa, elected
to the committee on organization, has
been made a member of the perma-
nent committee. Mrs. Dodson is one
of the leading women in the conven-
tion. National Chairman Hays said
of her to-day that she was one Of the
most efficient persons on organization
work he had ever known. He stated
that the Republican women's machin-
cry in Iowa was by far the best or
ganized state group of women in poll
tics, and that he is expecting great
things of Mrs Dodson in her new
position.