The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-11

through reforms In election laws and
methods. win be largely determined
BY tho decisions OF the National
League Of Women Voters on pro.
poSals 20 be submitted by Mrs, Car.
RE Chapman Gait 90 the leagues sec.
ond annual convention. opening hero
today.
Mrs. Gait. "a chairman OF the
leagues committee on election laws
and methods. Is counted on TO supply
the surprise Of tho convention,
DEF MYSTERY OVER
REFORM PROPOSALS
A veil Of deep mystery has been
drawn over the proposals 20 be made
BY her with regard TO election re
forms While outlines OF tho reports
Of all other committees have been
submitted 10 headquarters. Mrs. Gait
has declined 90 give any indication
Of the nature OF her report.
IL Is suggested. however. that the
Recommendation may deal first with
plans for greater participation and
Influence hy women In local political
affairs. This Is an off year In ma
tionai and state elections. but Is the
year when tho majority OF munic.
fpaiities and counties elect their Off
Gals.
BY concentrating on obtaining a
larger share In local election matters
this year. Il Is suggested. the women
will be able 10 present demands more
effectively next year when they
come forward with their program
for reforms In state and national
elections
While Mrs. Cats proposals for
program OF election reform laws.
because they involve tho whole fu.
turs OF women's influence at ,he
polls. is tho center OF interest. the
coming convention VIII deal with
many other important issues touch
ing women's affairs
Plans will be laid for continuing
the fight for laws 10 help tho house
wife's fight against the cost OF iiv.
ing. Included in these arc:
Federal laws for the regulation Of
the meat packing industry: for great.
sr appropriations for studies and I'm.
ofructton In home economics: for cold
storage regulation. protection OF co.
operative associations: for extended
work In social hygiene and for tho
regulation of conditions affecting
women In Industry.
State action. along uniform lines.
Win be urged to restrict profiteering
and tho boarding and waste OF food
90 establish public-ovned markets,
abattoirs and milk depots: 20 encour.
ags legitimate cooperative assoclA.
tions. TO establish more uniform laws
Tor marriage and divorce. to eauaIixe
the property rights OF wives with
those OF husbands and provide Joint
guardianship rights over children: ex.
tension OF mothers pension laws. and
fuller cooperation between state com.
mittccs on American citizenship.
MAY ASK INDEPENDENT
CITIZENSHIP
Action also win be taken TO deter.
mine whether q fight shall be made
for passage Of separate bill estab-
fishing independent citizenship for
women. Today a wife's citizenship Is
determined by that OF her husband.
II she marries a foreigner. she loses
her American citizenship. II for.
eign woman marries an American
she becomes. automatically and with
out any naturalization. an American
citizen. Some believe action may be
obtained best by an amendment to
the naturalization laws. but the more
aggressive favor distinct and indie
pendent law dealing only with tile
subject Of women's citizenship.
Aitho II will be a wornen's convtn.
ton. several men will address the
committees on matters under consid.
Grafton.
Senator W. 8. Kenyon. author Of
the packer regulation bill which died
at the last session, will speak on
'"Ths Government and Public Wei
fare" Houston Thompson. chairman
Of the federal trade commission. will
speak on Government Of Monopoly"
and DIR. c. G. Pierce. assistant
surgeon general OF the public health
service. will discuss problems Of SO
ciai hygiene.
Words Of warning from two women
expcrienced--as woman's experience
goes--in matters political. will be
sounded by Mrs. Harriet Taylor Up
ton and Mrs. A. 70. Pyke. both OF
Ohio.
Mrs. Taylor. vice chairman OF the
executive committee OF the national
republican committee. and Mrs. Pyke.
member of the democratic national
committee and the first worpan dele
gate ever selected to a democratic
convention, viii speak on Pitfalls in
Politics"
Discussion Of these pitfalls may go
far toward shaping the decisions on
Mrs. Cats recommendation for cleo
tion reforms which. II Is expected.
will disclose not only pitfalls but real
traps for. women in present election
procedure.