The New York herald., 1921-05-23
Whv the WOman'S Watch Tower

a hostess house and d centre of thought
and activity for womankind"
With the greater concentration of our
national life in Washington. with the in
creasing interest of women in our national
Government, more and more of them are
coming to Washington, more and more are
we called upon for information and advice
she said.
MANY women who come to Washington
on business with Congress or the various
departments of Government lose valuable
time through not knowing how to go about
1t. In the Watch Tower they will find ex-
perts to help them. A legislative reference
bureau will assist those who wish to submit
bills to Congress.
still more important, it will be a per
manent stronghold from which the women
cannot be ousted. We were turned out OF
Cameron House in the middle of campaign
and were almost forced to give up our recent
headquarters by the owner raising the rent
We shall never be secure as long live
in rented houses. The strategic value of
this beautiful. dgnifed home of our own is
priceless"
The Watch Tower finances are to be fur
nished by a system of contributions from
friends of the movement throughout the
country who are becoming members. Meet
ings are now under way to raise funds
wherewith to complete the purchase.
This embassy for the women of the nation
faces the Capitol Building. 1t overlooks
beautiful terrace at % First street N w
A tablet on an outside wall records the fact
that the house was used as the National
Capitol from 1915 to 1919, while the real
Capitol was rebuilt, after having been
burned by the British. 1t was called the
Back Capitol" President Monroe was in
augurated there. In civil war times IL was
used a prison for Federal prisoners
From it's very beginning the spacious old
house has had great, deep historic sig
nificance. 1t was originally built by stock
company of Washington citizens to provide
a meeting place for Congress after the de
struction of the Capitol. They did this to
block revival of the movement to transfer
the seat of Government to Philadelphia
When the present Capitol had been restored
the stock company resumed possession OF
the Back Capitol" and held ii for hotel pur-
poses until 1861. The Federal Government
then took 1t over for use as a prison for
Southern sympathizers.
The building has since been used for resi-
dental purposes by distinguished people.
Among them have been the late Justice
Stephen ]. Field of the Supreme Court, John
G. Calhoun. Frank Condit Smith Of New
York, one OF whose daughters was married
to Gen. Leonard Wood; Mrs. Anna Rather
inc Greene, writer OF detective stories and
others
Among the leaders who will occupy the
residence Miss Hill, the nowly elected
chairman. She Is the daughter OF the late
Congressman Hill of Connecticut who
served in the lower house for twenty one
years. Miss Maude Younger. chairman Of
the legislative committee. of San Francisco
win establish her office headquarters there:
likewise Mrs Florence Boeckel. former editor
of The SuGrdoist.
New York women who win take an active
part in the affairs OF the Watch Tower
under the folds Of the purple. violet and
white banners, arc Mrs John Winters Bran
nan, state chairman for New York. Mrs
John II. Rogers, chairman Of advisory coun-
ell: Mrs. Tnez Haynes Irwin, member of
national council and author OF "The story
Of the Womans Party: Mrs. Robert T.
Caldwell. member national council
Mrs Henry O. Havemeyer, active i'm the
former organization. will take leading part
in the programme Of the new party
meeting of the New York group ami others
interested has been called at her town house
at ! East Sixty-siXth street New York city,
Thursday, june .. to discuss future policies