Evening journal., 1921-10-19
WOMEN HEAR
PLEA TO CUT
DEFENSE COST
CONTINUED from First Pager

Congressional COMMITTEES; Mrs. +.
Louis Slade, OF New York, regional
director Of the League of Women
Voters for Delaware. Maryland, New
Jersey. New York and Pennsylvania;
G. Bernard Walton, Of Philadelphia,
and the Rev. Charles L. Candee,
pastor OF Westminster Presbyterian
Church.
Mrs. Park will take as her subject
Women in a New Venture" "The
Women Voters and Elections will
be the subject Mrs. Slade will dis
cuss. The Reduction of Arma-
ments will be discussed by Mr.. Wal
ton and DR.. Candee. Greetings this
evening will be given by A d.
Warner, Jr., president Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce.
The convention will continue to-
morrow. Election of officers will be
held at 9.45 o'clock. Among the
speakers for the morning session are
Dean Winifred ]. Robinson. of the
Woman's College 'of Delaware; Miss
NJ. Shuler, of the Review of the Re-
views; Mrs. Cummins r. Speakman,
Miss Clara Southwick, of the Con-
sumers League, and Miss Helen r.
Brinton, Women's ten hour law in
spector. A luncheon will be served
at noon. Mrs. Slade, Mrs. Park, Mrs.
Ridgely and Miss Grace Abbot, chief
of the United States Children's
Bureau, will be the speakers for to-
morrow afternoon.
Mrs Ridgely as president of the
League made her annual address
shortly after the League convened.
She Testated the position and poll
cies OF the League as a political but
not partisan organization, and incl
dentaily voiced demand for a re-
duction in armaments.
Mrs. Ridgely in the course Of her
speech, said:
"Any organization as young as the
League of Women Voters is apt to
be misunderstood and TO have its
motives impugned. until it has made
its place and won public confidence
by its acts. Even then It is neces-
sary that II should from time to
time, restate its position and reaf-
firm its policies.
why are we leagued together as
women voters. We are asked does
not the League usurp the functions
of other existing women's organiza-
tons? Is there any need OF such
bodyP Ny answer is that the
League OF Women Voters Is the only
/ organization Of its kind in America
and that its existence is a positive
need. A member of President Hard
ing's cabinet has said that he con-
siders il a bright hope for the po-
litical future of America.
1T is the only political organiza-
ton of women unafillated with a
partisan body why do women need
a political organization? First, be-
cause, having been newly entran-
chised. they need education in citi-
zenship, they need in every State,
such organized groups for civic
study as the University of Yale is
giving TO Connecticut women with
the cooperation of the Connecticut
League of Women Voters. They
need to acquaint themselves, not so
much with the principles Of any
party. but with the basic facts OF
national and State government.
No matter how loyal to party a
woman may be, she must recognize
that her country is bigger than her
party. The party Is only Of value
when It serves the country as the me-
dunn to put in office those public
officials who will give that service
which will best accomplish the ends
OF just government Women need
them. an organization through
which, with other women, they can
study government.
ITO begin the study Of civics. th'
duties of citizenship through parry
utterances is as foolish as it would
be TO seed a crop not knowing wha
fruit it would produce, not KNOWN.
whether the fruit would prove nour
ishing. II would be like planting
crop which required a special sol
without having the earth of tn
field analyzed to see il the croI
could flourish and yield a harvest
First understand the principles o
government. learn how to know
what the political soil of the Unite'
States is and then you will be read.
to help to put in action the machin
cry Of that party which you believ
can cultivate II best
"I think when we speak OF po
litical body we confuse IL in ou
: minds unconsciously with a partisan
, body. We do not need or want
Z woman's partisan organization, Uu
, we do need and want a woman's po
. litical organization. There exists m
league in America today except IN
league of women voters, whose oh
iect is to acquaint women with IN
facts OF government and TO kee
, them in touch with political happen
ings. There are those who object {
our league because It is an organiza
ton entirely of women, and / graz
o that a similar organization made u
+ OF men and women would be idea
& but no such organization exists.
"If all women were fully covers
$ ant with the principles Of govern
: ment. however, and In touch wit
current political happenings. "
: should still need a League of Wome
= Voters. Politics in its widest, sens
= is "the theory and practice of obtair
ing the ends of civil society as pei
fectly as possible. The regulatio
and government OF a nation or Stai
Z, for the preservation OF its safet,
: peace and prosperity" Women nee
es a political organization free froi
! aliegience to any party throug
-, which they may not only study pol