Evening star., 1921-02-16
|CITy Governments.
PLACE FOR WOMEN
SO Says Miss Boardman in
Welcoming National Wom-
ans Party Delegates.

The future political program and
activity of the National Woman's
Party is to be decided upon by the
individual votes of more than 500
women, representing more than
thirty states. who are attending the
party's four-day convention which
convened at IL o'clock this morning
in the Washington Hotel. ..
The large. assembly room was
beautifully decorated for the occa-
sion with flowers and greens. flags
and banners. The delegates were
grouped according to their states.
Miss Alice Paul. chairman of the
woman's party, called the convention
to order. and following brief ad-
Dress or welcome, in which she out
ing. introduced Miss Mabel T. Board
man OF the board of District Com
missioners. Miss Boardman well
comeo the delegates on behalf of the
National Capital. Mrs. Harvey w.
whey OF this city then assumed the
morning session. Prayer was offered
by Rev. Olympia Brown of Wiscon-
SIN: VINO was introduced as a pioneer
sunragist and member of the advis-
ory council of the party.
me greater part of the morning
reports OF the national officers. the
nrst being that of Miss Sheldon Jack
son, chairman of the committee on
credentials. Others who reported were
MRS: ellison Gardner of the District.
chairman of the committee on pro-
chairman of the national headquar-
Lers maintenance committee; Mrs.
Florence Bayard Hil1es. Delaware,
chairman Of the committee on state
chairmen; Mrs. Inez H. Irwin, Massa- :
cnusetts. chairman of committee on
preservation of records of the National
Woman's party; Mabel Vernon, Della
ware. chairman Of committee on organi-
cation: Mrs. John Rogers of New York,
as chairman national advisory council,
and MRS. Lawrence Lewis, Pennsyl-
vania, national treasurer.
Must Do Full Duty.
with suffrage women will not only
exercise the voting power" Commits
sioner Boardman said in her address,
naturally enter public office. / there
fore would like to say a few words of
advice from the limited experience of
one woman in public affairs.
I'm the first place." she continued, 81
do not believe men or women should
be elected or appointed to Office be-
cause Of sex. Efficient service is ex-
pected from government officers, irre-
spective of their sex, and those Sc
lected should be best qualified to full
fill the duties of their respective Of
fees For this reason 1 believe women
are more qualified to serve in mu-
nicipal government, which comes in
such close contact with the home
problems, than in the federal govern
ment, which deals with so many i'm
portant national and international
"A woman in public office will find
that women will come to her believ-
ing woman will have better under
standing OF and more sympathy for a
woman's problems. Men also will
judgment will be less severe than that
OF men. This may help to humanixe
government. but women must be care
full not to let sympathy override JUS
ttce. The seamy and sordid side Of
lie will thrust itself upon us. and
from Its problems We must, not shrink
away.
when q woman says She cannot
serve on jury because her SYMPATHY
would prevent her sentencing q crim-
tnal she ignores her very grave s6uty
to the community. upon which .sNcff
an individual preys."
Miss Pasl Speaks. tsa r.
Miss Paul, in her opening address.
The very fact that our complete
victory is not won is a reason for
looking back over the great progress
that we have made in order that. we
may be encouraged to continue until
women are indeed really free. It is
for this convention to decide whether
the spirit Of this Organization is to BE
disbanded and it's machinery cast
aside or whether spirit and machinery
both are to be turned toward NEW
ends"
Mrs. Robert Treat whitehouse> Of
Maine. chairman Of the Maine bra6cf
Of the party. is presiding at the after
noon session. which convened at 2;aO
O'clock. Reports are being made by
Miss Maud, Younger Of California,
chairman Of the legislative depart
ment; Mrs. Florence Boeckei 6Y
Washington. chairman of the press
department.; Miss Sue White of Nasfi :
Vile. Tenn. chairman of the research
department. and Mrs. Abby Scot
Baker OF Washington. chairman of
the political department.
The foreign session will be tonight.
brilliant audience from the embas-
sizes and legations in Washington win
be present.