Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-10-19
MRS. HENRY R|DCELY
DESCRIBES LEAGUE
OF WOMEN VOTERS
In Opening Convention, Today,
She Outlined Object and Said
It Was Necessary.
HAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES

HAS MANY OPPORTUNITIES
Any organization as young as the
League OF Women Voters is apt to be
misunderstood and TO have its motives
impugned until II has made it's place
and won public confidence by it's acts.
Even then Il is necessary that Il
should from time TO time, restate its
position and reafiirm its policies"
with this declaration. Mrs. Henry
kldgely OF Dover, president of the
Delaware League OF Women Voters.
opened the annual convention of that
organization at the Hotel du pont this
afternoon. All sections OF the state
were well represented as were also
both of the major political parties.
This is the second annual conven-
uon OF the Delaware League. Dele
gates from the towns OF lower Della
ware Kan arriving this morning.
and 100 women are expected tokat-
tend the business session this after
noon.
|. This morning Mrs. Henry Rideeiy,
president of the league, met with the
nominating committee, which WIN re-
port at the meeting tomorrow morn
ing The members OF the nominating
committee are Mrs. J. X. Stack OF
Wilmington. Mrs. William Il. Jester OF
ID laware City. Mrs. Frank Hall Davis
OF Dover, and Mrs. Harrington Mes
sick Of BridEeville
This afternoon session Mrs. Ridaelv
y report the work OF the League In
Delaware. There are organised
branches In most OF the towns OF the
state. Last year through it's efforas
the women's joint legislative com
mittee was created, composed OF wo-
men representing Republican and
Democratic organizations. Federation
OF Womta's Clubs, Association OF Col.
lege Women. w. c. 4. L., and Con-
sumers League. This committee
representing the combined strength
OF the women Of the state. succeeded IN
securing through the Delaware legis-
iature enactment OF laws OF several
measures OF vital importance. The
League has had books on the govern.
ment Of the city OF Wilmington. OF
the state, of the county, explanation
or the judicial system I'm Delaware.
a. d book on the formation OF no.
litical parties, written and compiled
especially for the league. Citizenship
schools were held in five towns and Il
is hoped TO carry this work muck
farther next yesr.
After this convention. IL IN boped
that the women OF the state win work
with redouhled zeal 10 create a senti-
mont in favor OF disarmament. The
purpose OF the league. as emphasized
by the convention, is first TO educate
women In citizenship so that they
may become intelligent voters and
not merely swell the electorate. and
second, TO work for national and State
legislation particularly affecting wo-
men. At the meeting this evening.
he general topic will be reduction of
AT the luncheon tomorrow. there
viii be brief messages delivered by
Mrs. Eilicott of Baltimore. president
II the Maryland League: Mrs. Charles
Lea, OF Devon; Miss Mary Archer, OF
reading. and Mrs James Starr. OF
Germantown, representing the Penn |
'yiVania League. Mrs. Star is known |
o Wilmington people through her |
work during Liberty loan drives.
An interesting feature OF tomor- |
'ow's session will be a comparison Of |
he prices paid farmers for their prod
icts and the prices Delaware house
Ieepers are paying. Ten towns are
expected to report in this discussion. |
President Ridgely's Message.
The outstanding feature of today's
session was Mrs. Ridgely's keynote |
speech.
why are we leagued together >as
women voters?" Mrs. Ridgely asked. |
We are asked does not the League |
lsurp the functions of other existing |
organizations. Is there any
heed of such a body? My answer is |
hat the League Of Women Voters is |
he only organization of its kind in /
America and that it's existence is a |
positive need. A member Of President /
tarding's cabinet has said that he |
considers 1t "a bright hope for the |
POLITICAL future Of America
1T is the only political organization
4 women unaffiliated with a partisan
ody. Why do women need a political
rganization? First. because, having
'een newly enfranchised, they need
ducation in citizenship, they need
n every State such organized groups
or civic study as the University OF
fale is giving TO Connecticut women
With the cooperation of the Con-
ecticut League of Women Voters.
hey need to acquaint themselves,
OF so much with the principles OF any
arty. but with the basic facts OF
ational and State government.
mo mater how loyal TO a party a
goman may be, she must recognize
hat her country is bigger than any
arty. The party is only OF
alue when it serves the country as
he medium to put in office those pub
Continued on page 12
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