Evening star., 1922-05-09
A Congress of New World Women.

ut has been for some time a growing
debate whether man does indeed run
this world or whether the back-stage
direction is in the hands Of the wom-
en-" and in this discussion the Detroit
News grants to each man his own
opinion in line with his own expert
ence.", but 1t suggests that further
light on the subject is to be found in
the pan-American conference OF the
National League of Women Voters just
adjourned at Baltimore.
Here was gathered. a Baltimore
writer tells US. Representatives from
twenty-three nations, chosen because
of proved ability and of disinterested
work on some topic which is matter
Of public concern in their own coun-
tries The meeting was "a PAN
American conference of women. not of
women suffra agists," the New York Post
reminds us, for among the guests of
the American women voters were not
a few South American delegates doubt
full of suffrage or fatty opposed to It,"
While women. as a whole. have not
been overeager to use their political
enfranchisement," the Baltimore Amer
lean thinks that the lesson this pam
American conference teaches men 'is
responding to the appeal and guidance
of competent and disinterested women
leaders"
For this reason the St. Louis Post
Dispatch considers it of the greatest
Importance that these leaders shall
not be. to use the phrase Of the pres
ident of the organized American
women voters. "all dressed up and no.
where to 60" I'm order that women,
who are entering upon the exercise
power and influence for the welfare
Of themselves and all the people,"
the Post Dispatch insists that they
should study not only the practical
issues and the measures which are
brought up for decision and the
may be exercised effectively. but the
basic principles of republican insti-
tutions and the proper functions of
government"
This. however, is precisely what
newly enfranchised women are doing
Schenectady Gazette observes, for
while men take their politics by ma
ture," women are studying parlia-
mentary law and already know more
about the conduct of public business
than men," Not "in ones and twos.
but by dozens and hundreds, in every
living community in the land" the
normal woman" is studying political
and social problems to degree that
is taken up only by "the exceptional
man."
But the New, York World finds evil
dence in the Baltimore convention
that the women, or some of them at
least, are nevertheless taking a leaf
from the masculine political creed.
THE agitation by an element of the
League of Women Voters for more
offices and less welfare work Is
symptom of considerable interest to
mere male observers" it suggests,
"spoils-hunting' on the part of wom-
en- voters materially different from
the aspirations of Tammany or of
the Philadelphia republican ma
chine?" Practical politics 'is prac-
tical politics, whether in women's
and If group of women voters
exist "to obtain more offices for
women" the World warns it. "ft must
resort to the methods by which or
ganizations of male voters obtain
not sacrifice, it's ideals of public
However, this is only the domestic
side of the meeting which was held
in Baltimore. It's wider interna-
many editorial writers and from this
aspect the Baltimore Sun declares
that "the Pan-American Conference
is already recognized as of historic
and international Importance. as the
first chapter in a volume of world
wide Significance" 1t takes the first
step, the Philadelphia Public-Ledger
adds toward national friendship in
establishing informative personal con-
TACT The women will learn from
each other, and the country of their
citizenship will gain by what they
have heard and seen and felt in
their convocation," for. as the Man
chester Union says, they are. per-
naps unconsciously, becoming larger
minded"
ence has established the fact that
women in both the Americas are
Eeenly, directly interested in the
same, topics" the Seattle. Times be-
lieyes, for while "the laws under
which they live may differ, their an
cesfry may be diverse and their eco
nonnic position dissinilar." yet. 'the
women of the new world nations find
their greatest inspiration in the home
and their greatest problems in the
marriage relation, in the family and
in the rearing Of their children" and
there may be tremendous significance
a. +ha ooreeueuf among the dele