The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-04
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE

THE bE<1oO6
The jefferson County 1eague is at
with the National League of Women
Voters which has organizations in
every state in the union.
What Is 1t
The National League of Women
Voters is a national organization OF
women who wish not merely to vote
but to use their votes to the best ad-
vantage.
The National league is composed OF
state leagues of which there may De
only one from each. state and mas as
associate members other national or
PLANTATIONS working along similar
lines. ANY woman interested in see
ing her vote count for the pubic
good may be a member.
The organization has two purposes
to foster education in citizenship
and to support improved legislation.
The prC gram is educational and
legislative, l. e., to get behind need
ed reforms, to urge their support and
adoption in the platform of the pe-
litical parties and their enactment
into laws. -
The slogan of the league is EN-
roll in The Political Parties" 1t Is or
ganized to dc legislative work in
order to promote its program
1t is not woman's party or
separate political party. The League
of Women Voters hopes to accom-
plish its purpose in two ways; first
by education, as to national and state
human needs; second, by the direct
influence of it's own members who
are enrolled voters in the already
existing political parties. 1t is not
partisan 1t will not support or at
tack national candidates or national
parties. To quote from the constitu-
ton, "The National League of Wom-
en- Voters urges every woman TO be-
come an enrolled voter but as an
organization it shall be allied with
and support no party"
why 1t Is
Because, women see definite things
which are needed in our social struc-
ture and which men voters have
never seen clearly enough to estab-
lish.
Because, by organization certain
great purposes and ideals of women
can be accomplished which individ-
ual women or individual groups can
not bring about.
Because these needed changes can
be secured by the spread of informa-
ton, education and the public, pres
sure brought to bear on Congress and
on state legislatures to pass the
necessary laws and to arouse public
opinion to secure their Enforcement.
Because some progressive ideas
have been enacted into laws in the
various states and the great need is
to secure these laws which have
proved practical and satisfactory for
all other states in the union.
RacauSa tho Qna will cerva q
rallying point for these national and
state needs which so far women have
seen more sclearly than men.
How 1t Works
By Education-Directly in the form
of citizenship schools and classes to
make every woman an intelligent
voter, acquainted with processes of
government and voting, informed as
to citizenship rights and duties and
aroused to the needs of certain ma
tional and state reforms. This instruc-
tion in citizenship will be continued
until public sentiment has made such
course an integral part of our pub
lie school system.
Indirectly by spreading knowledge
of great lacks in our social structure
and by suggestions for Improvement.
This method is developed in the
work of standing committees which
investigator collect, and sort data
as to existing needs and laws al
ready passed to meet these needs,
law enforcement etc.
These standing committees, each
one headed by woman who is an
expert in her line. are:
Child welfare.
Women in industry.
Social hygiene.
Food Supply and Demand 49,
American citizenship.
Election laws and methods.
Research and data department.
The legislative program of the
national league Is based on the re-
ports of these committees which
makes recommendations for the
years work.
By Legislation-For national action
are selected from the reports of the
standing committees those matters
of greatest urgency which comprise
the immed iate program of the league
and this selection is made by the
board. Not all things deemed vitality.
necessary by each committee can be
pushed at once. The board of di-
rectors and the standing committees
constitute an executive council to