The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-27
Equal Representation of
Women On State Democratic
Committee to Be Discussed
Subject Will Be Taken Up by Executives at January
Meeting correspondence Relative to Proposed
Plans Made Public

committee be brought before the next
meeting of the committee.
TT will give me pleasure to consult
with democratic women. as you sug-
gest; also with democratic men in
regard to this matter.
May 1 say in answer to your ques-
ton regarding the wisdom of having
representation on a sex basis. that
while any division of sex into party
lines is undesirable, would prove
doubtless TO be a political absurdity,
the matter in question is within party
lines and resolves itself into what
will best serve the interest Of the
party. its organization and upbuild-
ing. At present the democratic wem-
en- of Alabama. who number approx
mately half OF what should be the
democratic vote, are practically I'M
organized.
Men and women cannot be organ
lied separately to work against each
other, but they can be organized to
work together. The democratic con-
doubled the personnel of the national
committee recognized this fact, ad-
mitted the necessity for thorough or
ganization of democratic women. and
set an example for the state, county
and precinct committees.
Full representation in the passive
sense that women have equal political
rights with men and may serve on
the democratic executive committee
is already assured. That sort OF rep
resentation Is fair and sufficient when
1t comes to civic office.
But equal representation in the
active sense that the democratic
party must concern itself with the
thorough organization of the fem
mime nalf Of its strength Is the ques-
ton that l trust will be given ear
nest and full consideration by the
democratic executive committee at It's
next meeting.
Thanking you for the spirit of
kindly cooperation expressed in your
letter, 1 am, cordially yours.
ADELE G. M'NEEL,
National Committeewoman for Ala
bama."
Mr.. Nesbitt's final letter of Novem-
Der reads:
MY Dear Mrs. McNeel-I have your
letter of November 2.
We thoroughly agree as to what
we wish done In regard to proper
representation for the democratic
women of Alabama on the state
democratic executive committee. The
particular thing that we must ar
range for Is how this can be done.
Please bear in mind that the present
custom is that members of the state
democratic executive committee are
elected in primaries and that prob
ably the democratic committee itself
has no authority to increase it's mem
bership or to elect additional mem
bers. It's only authority in this re-
spect is to fill vacancies in its present
fixed mem bership of so. In order to
either increase the membership of the
committee, or to change the present
method of selecting the committee in
the primaries and to make such
change as would insure any certain
number of women being on the COM
mittee, 1t will be necessary to have
a state democratic convention at
which these matters can be discussed
and since they have the power of rep
resentation could make such changes
temporary or permanent. as are nee
essary to carry out the wishes of the
democratic men and womer of the
state.
May I ask your help in a study Of
both the present law and past GUS
.om and your suggestion as to the
best way to accomplish in 1922 the
representation for democratic women
which we desire and l am sure the
democrats of the state desire on the
state executive committee. With kind
regards, l am, yours very truly,
wv D. NESRITT"