New-York tribune., 1921-01-29
Ask Governor if He Also
Bans American Legion,
Bar Association and
Similar Organizations
resent Suspicion
OF Their Motives
Say Parties Deny Sex
Equality, Wanting Only
Aids Who Take Orders
From STAFF Correspondent

From a STAFF Correspondent
ALBANY, Jan. 2s.-Governor Miller's
speech before the New York State
League of Women Voters last night. in
which ne branded the organization and
all similar bodies as menaces to Amer
lcan institutions, provoked bitter
protest from the Republican women Of
the league to-day. The protest, which
took the form of letter to the Gov
ernor, was mailed this afternoon to Mr..
Miller, who is confined to the Executive
Mansion because Of bronchial cold
The women resented the imputation
that their motives in advocating the go
called welfare bills were not honest.
They declared that one Of their pur-
poses was the education of the new
voters and gave it as their experience
that political parties do not want wom-
en- of independent action, saying that
there was no place in party organiza-
tion for them unless they were willing
to take orders. Another criticism was
that there was no equality of sex in
party management.
They also asked the Governor if in
his criticism Of new political organlza-
tions that exert political influence he
included the American Legion, the
Changers, the Bar Association, the
manufacturers associations and the
Citizens Union.
Letter to Governor
The letter to the Governor follows:
1--WE, the undersigned, enrolled Re-
publicans Of the League of Women
Voters, wish to thank you for coming
to speak at our banquet last evening
and to express to you our apprecia-
tion of the frankness and courage with
which you addressed US.
There were certain misapprehen-
sicns on which you based your state
ments which you will undoubtedly wish
to have corrected. The League Of
Women Voters is not woman's party,
nor is it political party in any sense
of the word 1t lacks the chief ele-
ment of a political party, as it does
not want anything for itself or for
any Of it's members. 1t is not fighting
either political party. Most of its
members belong to one of the two
dominant parties and the league urges
party allegiance
Our experience within the organi-
zation of the parties, however, is a
humilating one. 1t has taught us that
there is as yet no real equality in the
management of party affairs, nor in
the choice of delegates or candidates.
We are forbidden to exercise indie
pendence- or judgment, and are openly
advised that there is no place in the
party except for those who take or
ders.
"You deny our right to work as a
group outside the political party for
political measures, and you say that
all nonpartisan groups which seek to
affect legislation and the choise of
, candidates are menace. to the welfare
of the country. Do you include in this
such groups as the State Charities Aid,
the Citizens Union, the Bar Associa-
ton, the American Legion. the Manu-
facturers' Association, or are we a
menace because we are women? We
believe that such associations are only
dangerous if they are secret and offer
secret rewards.
Do Not Surrender Conscience
"Our chief point of difference is in
the way we regard party allegiance.
In joining political party we do not
eel that we must give our conscience
into its keeping.
eve deeply resent the charge made
in two of your public addresses that
our motive in pushing the welfare bills
was not honest and we are amazed that
you should not know that they were
initiated not by US, but by the organ
lied working women of the state. You
have made your own position on well
fare legislation perfectly clear and we
respect your convictions. You owe US
the same respect.
"Since you, the leader Of our party
and it's spokesman in the state, publicly
denounce our work, we beg to submit
the following questions:
"The chief work of the League of
Women Voters is educating voters, es-
pecially women. Does not the Re-
publican party want an intelligent cleo
torate?
eve believe that voters should study
public questions in an unprejudiced
way. Therefore we offer a non-parti-
san platform for their discussion. Does
the Republican party prefer that the
| voters should accept partisan view
fcentInucd on page four>