New-York tribune., 1921-02-18
By Emma Bugbee

right to meet in schoolhouses to dis
cuss public questions.
Her remarks about the old ladies'
home were received with stony silence,
but she caused great outburst of en-
thusiasm when she spoke her mind
about the right of Congress to control
public discussions In schoolhouses
This was an echo of recent contro-
versy between the Senate and the Com
munity Center's organization in the
District of Columbia.
Criticises Act of Congress
Congress recently tried to limit our
on the ground that the
school houses were breeding unrest"
she said.
~ know of nothing that could uphold
that statement, but even granting it, is
it the business of Congress to super
wise the speech of those they repre-
sent? Even if laws are broken in COM
munity centers, it is not the business
of Congress to intervene. 1t is the
business of the courts or the Depart
ment of Justice to try the individuals
who have broken the law.
THE Senate also objected because
we danced in our public schools. Again
we do. whether we listen to Socialist
speeches or dance? 1t was even sug-
gested on the floor of. the Senate the
other day that we should not be allowed
to talk politics in our centers. Isn't
that amazingw
She warned the suffragists that in |
forming new political organization
which they are determined to do
they were "only sewing new seeds of
disruption"
Urges Union of Parties
what you are really trying to do
Is to form q woman's machine," she
said. as there any reason to think
that a woman's machine will be any
more effective, honest or selfish than
a mans machine? 1t is q crime to
separate men and women. Why can't
we ali work together for the good of
the human family?"
The sutfragists know only to we'll
that it will be difficult for them to hold
together, and that is the reason for the
panic which has come ever the con-
vention with the news that Miss Alice
Paul, the founder and leader. is de-
termined to withdraw from active
leadership. With every reform in the
country, besieging the woman's doors,
from birth control to the suppression
of drugs among the Indians, they know
that it will be hard for them to steer
straight course; without Miss Paul.
they feel they would be lost Miss
Paul, however, wishes to study law.
The convention to-day adopted a
resolution formally asking her TO con-
tinue her leadership, but even this was
o. IN Nod ct,
The sutfragists will form a board of
directors to carry on their feminist {
program until such time as Miss Paul
is willing to come back into active
political work.
Emancipation Again Discussed
The complete emancipation of
woman" was again the keynote of all
the discussion to-day. Wild applause
greeted Mrs. Agnes Morey, of Boston.
when she demanded that the woman's
party continue to be the STANDARD
bearer in the movement for the liberia
.tion of women"
Mary Winsor, of Pennsylvania,
stampeded the convention when she
cried: Don't let's get respectable. All
these uplift organizations are coming
to US to-day to ask for our help. /
notice they did not help US when we
were arrested for picketing."
Although the convention apparently
is determined to go its own gait as a
non-partisan political organization, it
invited representatives of FIVE political
parties to address it tonight. Simeon
Fess, Republican Congressional chair
man, and Miss Alice NJ. Robertson, the
woman member of Congress from OKLA
homa, spoke for the Republican party;
Miss Charl Williams, vice-chairman of
the Democratic National Committee,
for the Democratic party; Meyer Lon
Kins, for the Committee of Forty-eight,
and William H. Johnson, for the
Farmer-Labor party.
Recommendations Adopted
The official recommendation OF the
executive council presented to the con-
yention to-day were as follows:
THAT the women here assembled
now consecrate themselves, the polit-
ical freedom of women having been
won in the United States, to see that
this freedom is not lost in any inter
national government that is estab-
lished, and to work for the removal of
all the remaining forms of the subjec-
tion of women.
"That, in order to carry out this
program, the National Woman's Party
disband and new organization be ere
ated.
THAT in order to promote the object
of this organization it maintain an
official magazine.
THAT the immediate work OF the or
ganization shall be the removal of the
legal isabilities of women"
Speakers at to-day's sessions were:
Miss Mary Stewart, National Fedora
tion of Business and Professional Wo-
mems Clubs; Miss Julia Lathrop, Chill
dren's Bureau; Mrs. j. C. Merriam, Ns-
.tional Federation of College Women's
Clubs; Mrs. Florence Kelley, National
Consumers League; Miss Lida Hafford,
General Federation of Women's Clubs;
Surgeon Reserve Lydia De Vilbiss,
United States Public Health Service;
Miss Mabel Kittredge, Woman's Inter
national League for Peace and Free
dom: Miss Mary Anderson, Woman in
Industry Bureau: Mrs. Henry Willard,
National Woman's Peace Society; Mrs.
Maud Wood Park, chairman of League
of Women Voters; Miss Ethel Smith.
Woman's Trade Union League; Mrs.
Nina Van Wrinkle, Washington Bureau
of Police Women; Miss Henrietta Ad-
diton, United States Social Hygiene
Board, and Mrs. Nora Blatch Barney,
for the League for Equal Opportunity
80 Wor.sr