Evening star., 1923-06-27
Md. GRETNA GREENS
TARGET OF WOMEN
Many Rockville and EIkton
Marriages Declared Hasty
! and UnWiSe.

Rockville and Elkton. branded as
Maryland's Gretna Greens, are to be
the targets of women's organizations
OF several states.
The women of Maryland. Virginia,
District of Columbia, Pennsylvania
and Delaware are to be called into
joint conference to encourage uni
form marriage laws in Maryland TO
prevent the hasty and unwise mar
riage of residents of neighborins states
in Rockville and Elkton."
This action was taken at a meeting
OF the Montgomery county branch OF
the Maryland League of Women
Voters at a meeting in Rockville.
Officers Elected.
County officers were elected for the
coming year. Mrs. G. w. Morey OF
Chevy Chase. seventh congressional
district, was elected president. The
meeting was opened with an invoca-
ton by Rev. +. Il. Wagner OF Rock
Vile.
Mrs. Josiah Jones of Olney reported
the circulation OF d persistent runIor
that If a person does not vote Tor his or
her party candidate i'll d general or pm
mary election the vote VIII pe con-
tested i'll the election following. Miss
considered a possible canu.uate Tor
the Legislature, replied tnat voters
should be informed tnat party aftllia-
tion carries no moral or legal obliga-
tion to vote for nominees or the party.
She stated also that digest of cleo
ton laws for voters will be distrlb-
uted among the woman voters prior
to the next election.
Mrs. Girvin Peters, chairman OF the
precincts of Chevy Chase, Bethesda
and Glen Echo, reported that the
membership Of the league under her
Jurisdiction has doubled itself during
the past year, aQd Mrs. Engle, the retir-
ing county president, compiimented this
state.
The following were elected district di-
rectors: Mrs. Richard Waters, for con-
gressional district No. 2; MRS. Charles
4; Mrs. rroman Cissel. ,; Mrs. Glrvin
Peters, Z: Mrs. NJ. Bancroft, 5; Mrs.
John Stone, IL; Mrs. Moon, IL; Mrs. j.
, II. Lewis, L., and Mrs. f. L. Lewton
for No. u.
Report on Legislation.
Mrs Morey, the newly elected pres
ident, took the chair after luncheon
and asked Mrs. Peters to preside.
Miss Engle was called on for re-
port on the legislative program
adopted at Annapolis last week. Sne
stated that the league considers
ondary to its major service Of educa-
tion in government for women voters.
1t is planned to carry on an exten-
sive campaign of educating women in
civic affairs and increasing their
registration through the medium OF
the 900 women's clubs throughout
the state; also to train number OF
women as well informed leaders for
committee heads, the claim being
made that it is lack of information
rather than lack of interest which
holds women back from voting.
1t stated that many children
from the District of Columbia and
Virginia are wards in Maryland in
stitutions, and that 1t is to the bene-
fit of the children and d credit to the
state that these schools of correction
are under the supervision of the state
educa tional board and not under the
control of penal authorities.
Another move the League of Women
Voters of Maryland will back Is the
repeal of the Maryland laws permit
ting minor children to be bound out
into service, and the abolition of the
word illegitimate," as a child should
not be branded with such a stigma,
az II Is not the child. but the parents
who are illegitimate 1t is also planned
TO have the obstacles removed which
make the mothers pension law in
operative.