Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-14

women In this city, and little by little |
have got them untangled In my mind so
for the hour at least | am capable OF pass
ing civil service examination on them,
or it seems TO me that am. Possibly some
other mind, male or female, has been be-
wildered by newspaper illusions to one or
another during the summer as l have
been; possibly the newspapers have al
luded TO more than they done had cognizance
Of" At any rate. this is what l have
registered IN my own mind as to the names,
functions and activities Of the non partisan
and partisan, independent and party
women's committees that work politically in
Philadelphia.
THE League OF Good Government, be.
i fore women got the vote, was an
active political organization that came out
for measures md for candidates. It con-
tinued Its functions until this summer, when
II merged with the Voters League One thinks
of Mrs. Frank Miles Day and Of Miss Mary
Burnham and Of the Monday conferences IN
connection with the League Of Good Govern
serious women who took care to be informed
politically and who did not spare the rod
of disapproval If either candidate or an
officeholder or a legislative measure out
ragged their sense of Justice.
More than any organization OF the reform
trend It placed exact information above prop
aganda of popular sort, and In doing this
il put politics for women on safer plat
torn than any or It's contemporary reform
movements in the city,
The organization into which it has merged
has men and women members and under the
name OF the Voters League set itself the
task of building up political machine Of
somewhat mobile character that would push
certain candidates slated by the various par
ties and avoiding the somewhat negative
program OF past reform movements, act for
certain measures or candidates or Office
holders that after careful weighing seemed
to measure up to the requirements.
As A POLITICAL machine cannot be
"A made In day even out Of pieces of
various reform organizations and as the
rank and file Of male votes in this town are
cast automatically for candidates favored
by the local organizers Of the party in power,
the Voters League has long hard row to
hoe before It arrives at the proud position
Of moldcr Of public opinion Of the Crow
or Penrosc class; but there are many ad-
herents and moro well wishers who would be
glad to see II arrive, and good fighting
group that are willing to work to make II
power to be counted with.
CONTEMPORARIES with the League
~ of Good Government but working po-
litically only for the suffrage, were three
suffrage organizations that were political
entities in the town before the passing Of
the amendment giving women the voting
power.
A year ago most of these women who had
been active In getting the vote we're gathered
together in n large non partisan political
body known as the League OF Women Voters.
1t was very ably organized by Mrs. Gait
along the lines Of national, State, county
and ward committees.
II was designed to be purely an educa-
tional body and its county and State chair
men were not permitted to hold Office in any
political party organization In this city
1t had two ofices-the State headquarters
IN the Finance Building under Mrs. John
headquarters In the Franklin Building under
Mrs. George Dunning, county chairman.
very able set OF women comprised this
body in Philadelphia. and in many wards
especially those In West Philadelphia, the
organization by districts was well and thor
oughly done. II was possible by means of
this organization to get political information
over to nm apprecabc number Of voters in
a very short time-twenty four hours
which Is always a test of organization rec
Ogulzed by ward bosses.
The league in the State and In the county
and in the ward has n work of education to
perform that the new vote may be more
intelligent and less automatic than the old
vote has proved itself.
Throughout the State under Mrs. Mler's
very able and ardent management a very
good educational propaganda was put through
for the Constitutional Amendment vote and
material result was shown in some counties.
OF THE partisan political organizations
| ~ in this city there are two Democratic
| ones, whiC| were last year under Mrs. Jean
Kane FOulS for the State and Mrs. Edward
| Davis for the city. Ihring elections they
| did some stout eoCtiOnecring. Both women
! are noted for their enthusiastic tempera-
| ments and the political traditions of their
| families. As organizers In minority party
hou 1nnLy looi &c
| and not without their spiritual value TO
| those who rebel ngain"t the "sandpatters. "
| THIS brings me 70 the last three political
| L organizations on my list that played
| part that was observable TO the general
| public during the year,
A year ago last fall the Woman'r State
| Republican Committee under Mrs. Barclay
| Warburton's effective management began its
| interesting career. Mrs. Wnrburton was
chairman by appointment last year and so
we're her county chnlrmon throughout the
State. II was try-out Of women who
| had in ROme cases beCu successful in Liberty
Loan drives or Red Cross or war work. and
| In other cases we're active phiIanthropically
or educatiOnally, and In a very few In :
stances, politically, in their counties or dis -
| tricts or wards. The try out was TO prove
| whether they could work successfully with
men in general and the political men In
particular. The work was chiefly propa =
ganda work for candidates at election time
In the early summer of this year at n
| speclal meeting Of the State Republcan
Committee. Of which Senator Crow is chair.
man, a change was made In the State Re
publican Party rules by which women repre-
sentatives were admitted on basis Of
fifty fifty to the state Committee and the
county committees. Mrs. Warburton was
elected the vice chairman Of the State Re
publican Committee and Mrs. Thomas Rob
ins the assistant secretary Since then the
counties have followed suit
Each county will have a vice chairman
and assistant secretary, with seats on the
State Committee.
THIS eliminates separate State Repub.
l. lican Committee Of women and in tn,
counties separate county Republican, com.
mittees of women.
Those that do exist now are Independent,
Republicans, such as the one In Philadelphis
under the chairmanshp of Mrs Dobsor