The Washington times., 1920-05-06
.F|L|P|NOS MAY SEND
WOMAN T0FR|SC0
Miss Bessie A. Dwyer Nominat-
ed for Convention-Active
In Island Affairs.

when the delegates TO the Demo-
cratic National Convention gather In
San Francisco IL IL possible that an
American woman. former Washing
tonian at that. will be found seated
for the first time on record with the
small delegation from the Philippine
Islands.
That the women in Uncle Sans
Pacific isles are not content to take
a back seat while their more pro-
gressiye Western sisters are reaping
all the political honors is indicated
by the nomination OF Miss Bessie A.
Dwyer, secretary to Jaime G. DE Veyra,
the Philippine Commissioner in the
House. as an alternate on the regular
Democratic ticket.
IL the ticket Is carried, Miss Dwyer
will board the Democratic special for
Frisco. the first woman delegate from
the Philippines to demand seat In
q great American political conven-
ton. while stii waiting to hear from
the returns In the primary. Miss
Dwyer nevertheless Is sure Of q seat
II she is elected. for she has been
notified that the regular delegate
for whom she was chosen alternate
will be unable to attend the conyen-
ton.
Mrs. DEWITT Also On Ticket.
Along with Miss Dwyer. just three
places below on the ticket. 10 the
name OF another woman, Mrs. kath-
crime Dewitt.
HaiIing from the Lone Star State,
IL is only natural that Miss Dwyer
should take her first political plunge
In the Democratic party Heretofore
abe has always been on the side lines
as. a political writer and librarian.
st.lA LOT nj
"I8to-1" campaign In Texas, back In
1891, that Miss Dwyer first came TO
Washington to report Congressional
politics for the old National Econo.
mist when most OF the budding young
correspondents who now occupy the
press gallery were blissfully playing
with nursery toys instead OF politics.
1t seems that Miss Dwyer has been
in the habit OF blazing the way for
the advancement OF women. for she
enjoys the distinction Of being the
first woman ever appointed to posi-
ton in the Library OF Congress. Her
first appearance in the Library Great
ed mild sensation in those days.
when presidents counted for some
thing. Miss Dryer remained ten years
in the Library OF Congress, gradual
ing in the meanwhile from the Wash
ington College of Law, until her re-
tirement in 1895 to enter the 1nsular
Federal Service in the Philippine
Islands.
EnviabIe Philippine Record.
Sixteen years in Uncle Sans serv-
ice is Miss Dryers Philippine record.
During most OF that time she vas as
sistant to the chief OF the Philippine
! libraries and museum. Few American
women have been more actively en-
. gagged in the advancement OF the
Philippine women than Miss Dwyer,
who has particip ated in every move
ment for the betterment of civic and
political conditions in the islands.
During the war she spoke from one
| end of the islands to the other for the
Liberty loans, and helped raise 500
OOO. 900 toward the Governments war
chest fund.
Realizing that the American people
| had gained a wrong conception or
/ their Filipino neighbors, Miss Dryer
came to the United States September.
| a year ago, to assist Mrs. De Neyra,
wife of the Philippine commissioner.
IN spreading the truth about the
Philippines She also acts as political
guide for Mr.. De Veyra, and daily
attends to her duties at the Capitol
/ for the first time since years ago,
when she watched them from the
side lines as a "cub" reporter.
"MakinG the best Of the worst
i erNl 81