The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-03-19
German Catholic Women Organize
orsanizatIon,s Wonderful Growth

Come back when you have $4,000
members: we can't talk to infants"
said a leader of the Reichstag to Miss
Dransfeld several years ago when she
appeared to press the demands of
Catholic women. @
Miss Dransfeld returned to her or
ganization, began a campaign and
went back to Parliament this time
with 100000 members. Before long
the Union had more than million
women in it's roster of active work
ers. That number has grown to nearly
100000, and is waxing larger. Now
every bill affecting the rights and the
welfare of women and children is au-
Dramatically referred, both in the Ma
tional Parliament and the Provincial
Legislatures, to committees of women
members, of whom Catholic women
are numerous and important units.
The Catholic Women's Union of Ger
many began it's career in 1903. 1t was
the inspiration of Miss Dransfeld.
Shortly after it's Inauguration she con-
tracted tubercular disease which
left her an invalid for ten years and
obliged the amputation of her left arm
and right foot In the ten years of
and studied. She directed the growth
of the Union and, although she was a
graduate of university, continued to
tutor herself. She is now recognized
as an authority on economics, sociol-
ogy and social legislation.
This organization has enforced a
fine democracy among the women of
Germany, Mrs. Scheppegrell-Keppler
says. In it's membership are to be
found women of noble rank and great
wealth, but they work side by side
with the wives of toilers and girls
of the factories. Every social element
is represented in it's directorate and
on it's committees.
Advice to American Catholic Women.
Don't fail to interest and enlist the
wives and daughters of the workers;
don't put dependence on money! is
Mrs. Scheppegrell-K eppler's advice to
American Catholic women who would
attempt national organization.
1--WE found our most earnest and eff
fective workers in the, ranks of house
wives-the women of the middle and
working classes" she said. Wealthy
women did nothing proportionate to
their wealth and social position.
by bringing into our organization
the wives and daughters of the work
ers we have won thousands of Cath
Ollie men from the Socialistic groups.
More than that, we have insured the
children for orderly government and
the Catholic Church. The women have
established wonderful unity in the
Catholic body The Professionals are
more numerous than Catholics in Ger
many, but the former are so torn and
shattered by sectarianism that they
are unable to make their numbers
count
THAT is why at this moment Ger
many is under a Catholic government.
The chancellor and various members
of the cabinet c are Catholics. We
Catholics have a large and influential
representation--men and women--in
parliament and in every other legisla-
tive body, including that of Prussia,
the stronghold of Professionalism
The Catholic women have become
the wonder and despair of the polit-
ical parties of Germany, Mrs. Scheppe-
grell-Keppler said, By perfection of
organization towhich no other group
has attained, these Catholic women
are able to give marvellous exhibitions
of their solidarity and potency.