Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-15
N. y. LEAGUE OF WOMEN vo-
TIERS
(From New York Globe)

so honest in declaration of reac-
tionary principles as was Governor
Miller in his speech to the delegates
Of the Leageu of Women Voters; sell
dom has a public officer been so o.
sviously mistaken, seldom 50 easily
refutea. The Leagues letterin reply
bowls orershis arguments like ten
pins. sirely i: issnot the Governors
iirntentioatto set them up again, labor
iously, To be knocked down. His eff
fonts in this direction will serve only
; i furnish the advocates of the vel
! fareEbills with publicity and talking
points.
You ask us to remain docile mem
bers of parties. the league answers
the Governor, but within the parties
we are not treated as equal. we
ss-are forbidden to exercise independence
or Judgment, and arr openly advises
. that there is no place in the part.
except for those who take orders
You ask us, they continue, to dissolve
our nonpartisan organization because
of the deleterious effect OF ,non-paftl-
san lobbying on legislation. DO you
include in this such groups as the
State Charities Aid, the Dalrynen $
League, the Grange. the CITIZENS
Union, the Bar Association, the
American Legion, and the Manuals
turers' Association, or are we men-
ace because we are women! Ihere
is no evading this question, nor
more difficult one, which it implies,
concerning the number Of lobbyists
employed at Albany, and the aims
of those who employ them /.
Governor Miller spoke from a full
and prejudiced heart. Upon Eetlec-
gtion it may occur to him that MIS-
Gait was correct in her rejoinder that
no great reform in our history has
been Initiated by a political party.
The original impetus comes always
I from a smaller group. The League
of Women Voters has adopted the
only tried and efficient method o:
getting things done.
There is truth in Governor Miller,s
statement that the influence Of non
partisan minorities has been pernlc-
ious. But the most active and per
nicious of minurities in the Hobbies at
Albany and Washington are working
tooth and nail to kill the measures
which the League Of Women Voters
favors. When the lobbyists OF cor
porate interests are no longer to De
found in our capitals it will lie tins
TO take seriously the argument thar
non-pactisan groups should drop their
efforts toward jus. and humane reg
ulations. Laws providing for the
hour day for women, the abolition =
night work, and health insurance are
not directed at the individual but at
unscruplllous employers who are will
ling to take every economic adVant-
age OF helpless employees ar the eN-
Dense of the individual and the race.
The New York State League OF
Women Voters wisely puts the en-
phasis on projects calculated to appeal
to mothers, home makers. and educa-
tors. Whether we like the arrange
ment or not, it remains true that
women are mcthers. home-makers,
and educators in the vast majority OF
cases. They should be able to initiate
and Influence legislative action cal
culated to better the status OF child
Sren and mothers in the community
There is no question that they can
play other parts; bul they can speak !
with most authority. along these lines,
and moreover there is much to be
done which would never occur to the
masculine temperament as worth an
effort.
Such things, to quote from the |
leagues programme. as federal aid |
to:'anaternity and child life, an active !
Campaign for the prevention Of ven
ereal disease, and education in sex
hygiene. the abolition of discrimina-
ton against women employed by the /
government, better conditions for wo- |
men III industry, better distribution |
Of food products to reduce the cost OF |
living, Il federal department of edu-
cation, and direct citizenship for
married women. Some of these pro
posals so far SuYpass the ordinary /
run Ct legislation IN scope and I'M
portance that the minor operation OF
state and national assemblies Is quite .
Gwarfed beside Them. Here is the
woman's point OF view, honestly pre-
Sentpd II may not achieve immediate