New-York tribune., 1922-02-20
" omen Open
Drive to Pass
Maternity Bill
Nineteen State Organiza-
lions Join Campaign to
force Carrying Out of
The Shcppard-Towncr Law
Oppose Welfare Bureau
Support DucIl Measure
10 Take Advantage of
Act Passed by Congress

omen voters of New York State
wlll start this week an active campaign
IN support Of the bill to make effective
the Sheppard -Towncr law for the pro-
lection of maternity and infancy.
Nineteen statewide organizations
nave united in campaign committee
to push the bill introduced last week
by Senator Holland S. Duell A series
oi pubic meetings will be held
throughout the state, and the energies
OF womcn's clubs and groups of women
voters will be directed upon Albany.
me women will oppose the plan of the
Mlller administration, as reported from
Alnany last week, for the creation of
bureau of welfare and hygiene OF
maternity and infancy. under the sole
jurisdiction OF the State Health De
partmcnt. The Miller plan would
ignore the Sheppard Towner law, which
already has been passed by Congress
ana which gives financial aid to the
states fol the maternity work
Defends Sheppard Act
Miss Mabel Choatc, president of the
Maternity Center Association. .sug-
gcsted yesterday that to ignore this
act was not in accord with the economy
program of the present administration.
Docs the Miller administration CON
slider 1T economy to refuse the $4,000
which every state is offered as a gitt
under the Sheppard Towncr act, and
the additional $4,000 which Uncle Sam
gives to New York on condition that
the state match this sum dollar for
dollar! she said. "The taxes which
congress has authorized will have to
be paid whether or not New York ac-
ccpts its allotted share.
here is no violation Of sta tcs
rights in the Sheppard Towncr act, as
under its provisions DR.. Hermann t.
Blggs, of the State Department Of
Health, and DR.. Florence L. Mckay,
director of the division of child hv-
glcne Of the State Department of
Health, are specified as the state au-
thorltles charged with the duty of ad
mlnlstcring the joint Federal and state
fund
Mrs. Mitchell to Tour
Mrs. Willis G. Mitchell, vice-c chair
man OF the women's campaign commit
tee, will start at once on an upstate
speaking tour. with the first meeting at
Utica on Wednesday,. Oneida, Rome
and Oswcgo also will have meetings,
and the tour Will end in Albany.
Mrs. Frank A. Nanderlp. chairman
Of the New York State League Of
Women Voters, is chairman Of the
loint committee. which goes under tho
official title of "United Organizations
for the Sheppard Towner Maternity
and Infancy Bill Miss Marjorie Borg
is secretary and Mrs. George A. Skin
ner treasurer. Headquarters arc at
l29 East Fifty second Street.
The organizations in the committee
are the Girls Friendly Society in
America. Young Women's Christian AS
sociation, northeast field; National
Womcn's Trade Union League. Ameri-
can Association for Labor Legislation
Women's Municipal League, Community
Councils. City Parliament; Nationa
Child Welfare Association, American
Association of University Women, New
York Branch; American Association
of University Women, state division
State Federation of Home Bureaus
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Of New York State, State Consumers
League, State Federation of Wolnen'e
Clubs Maternity Center, Horace Mann
Parent Teachers Association, Wash
ington School, Parent Teachers Asso-
ciation; City Federation Of Women's
Clubs, New York City League of
W omen Voters and Womens City Club
of New York