Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-01
LEAGUE Of WOMEN
VOTERS LAUDED FOR
EDUCATIONAL WORK
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire TO The Journal.)

Copyright, 1924
BUFFALO, n. Y, April 29.-The
stranSest national convention of the
year Is being held here. Alongside
of it the Republican national con-
vention at Cleveland and the Demo
cratic national convention in New
York would afford a remarkable con.
trast.
For here are gathered delegates
who are interested in principles and
not in parties. In the two major
conventions will be assembled dele
gates interested in men and political
parties.
There is no partisanship in the
National League of Women Voters.
Nor is there any attempt to pass
judgment of existing controversies
in congress. But the background Of
these controversies, the principles
which are Fundamental in them, are
being studied here. And the whole
convention may be described as a
university extension course. 1t is
by far the most intelligent effort
that vet has been made in America
to practice democracy in practical
terms and educate the voter to the
use of the ballot.
Education for Voters
The objective of the League Of
Women Voters this year is to urge
rs per cent OF the eligible women
voters of the nation to go to the
pol:% The league itself will not
tell them how to vote or what party
or candidates to indorse. But any
one who attends the meetings of the
various state or city leagues and
reads the various bulletins and pub
locations issued by them, has been
educated sufficiently to render an
individual judgment.
The leagues sole aim is good gov
ernment-intellige and efficient
administration. What some mems
organizations have taken generations
to accomplish in the way of adVanc-
ing certain progressive movements,
the League of Women Voters has
achieved in four years.
Reports from the state and coun-
ty organizations show that the nat
ural inquiSitiVeneSs of women has
resulted in regular lnterrogatorles to
candidates so that the voter can
determine what those who seek pub
lie office really stand for. The
searchlight of scrutiny has been
turned on individual records. The
awakening of the women of the ma
ton to their power in the use of the
ballot is proceeding with remarkable
success. Each year shows an in
creased number Of active workers in
the local communities.
The national convention which has
been in session for several days
has gone along tremendously be-
cause in no instance has it invaded
the domain of political parties. The
leagu however, has not, confined
itself entirely to abstract principles,
for 1t has gone on record unequlVo-
cally in favor OF the entry of the
United States into the permanent
court of international justice, ac-
cording to the Harding Hughes pro-
posals which recently received the
Endorsement of President Coolidge.
Foreign Policies Adopted
Resolutions also have been formu-
lated in support of such action as
would permit the United States gov
eminent to send representatives ito
act on international economic com
mittees and conventions. Also the
league favors measures Of disarma-
ment by international agreement,
particularly with reference ''to ma
val, military, aviation, gas and
chemical warfare"
Not the least important of the
recommendations, incidentally, is one
that has only recently been agitated,
but which is of paramount impor-
ance in an era of open diplomacy,
namely, Measures to secure prompt
publication of state department re-
ports
Apart from the foregoing recon-
mendations for legislation, the
League of Women Voters has re-
served for study the problem of rep
aratiOns, the League of Nations, the
Box peace plan, and the whole queS-
ton of American foreign policy with
respect to the Philippines, the Mon
roe doctrine and Europe generally.
Among the topics is one relating to
a constitutional amendment whereby
treaties may be ratified by majority
instead of two-thirds vote. After
numerous roundtable discussions, re
ports will be made on these ques-
lions.
Apart from current events, the
whole organization here has begun
an intensive work of education in
governmental affairs. citizenship, So
cial hygiene, child welfare and eff
cheney in government with concrete
recommendations for legislation in
ecah. Indeed, attending the conven-
ton here, where there is absence of
personal and party ambition, is a
breath of fresh air in a season of