The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-08

speaks of her organization. Her po- liticaI activitieg are her life, When asked her age Mrs. Porges replied: T am as old as I feel. Though my hair is white I don't propose to be called an old lady. I can get about as well as I used to- And she does "get about" unceasingly.
 Mrs. Porges has never held office, and has never sought any personal gain. She is a politician because it is in her blood to be one, and because she loves it.
 So far the three women have stood shoulder to shoulder on the Committee of Seven. They are agreed that they have but one object-to carry on the plans of the late chief.
 Miss Elizabeth M Barry can be found at the Fourth district municipal court, where she holds the post of deputy clerk. Since Tammany first opened its doors to women in an executive capacity she has been leader of the Twelfth dis. trict. Miss Barry impresses one as a capable, clear thinking woman who has no time for, false sentiment.
 "I consider our appointment to the committee of seven very fair reeognl- tion of eur sex," she said. We had no reason to suppose that women would be invited to join it and we are pleased to have been given so large represen- tat ion. Tammany has always been ad- vanced in its attitude toward the wo- man in politics"
 She cited Mir. Murphy's choice of Miss Annie Mathews for county register; his selection of Miss Harriet May Mills and Miss Elizabeth Marbury as delegates-at- large to the convention in 1920 and the appointment of Judge Jean Norris to the bench.
 Miss Barry is a resident of the Twelfth district. She was born in that part of town and her parents had spent their lives there. Votes for women had played no part in her life up to the time that the Nineteenth amendment was passed. She had de- voted her interests to business, being a buyer for a commercial establishmeht.
 As soon as the franchise was extend ed to women, members of the Twelfth district committee decided to admit them to their ranks. Miss Barry's name was suggested for leader by Mir. Murphy himself. She accepted. Hay ing place in the political organiza- tion, she gave her interest to it and de- terminedN that she and the women under her jurisdiction should make good. For some time she continued in her busi- ness, meanwhile whipping her feminine cohorts into shape. Her first political office was rendered her some four years ago, when she was made assistant clerk in the court where she now acts as deputy clerk.
 Miss Barry does not expect women to reform the world at once, on the AIau Ln 4hary ct mt reach their ability.
 "Of course, we hope to effect many improvements, especially in welfare work" she said. That lies nearest our hearts. Care of children, the sick, the insane, the infirm and the unfortunate has always been a part of out lot in life. The administration of their care has come into our hands in part, now that we are holding public offices. But we can never forget that much wise legislation has been enacted in Albany long before we dreamed of going to the polls.
 Naturally we have ideals, but they are not confined to ourselves any more than they are to our co-workers, the men. We now have a common interest. We must work with the machinery we find at hand. We must learn. Pretty speeches about the things we purpose to do mean nothing. It is work that tells.''
 Mrs. Stewart commands small army of forty-six election captains, who know every inch of the ground in her terri tory. My women can enter apartment buildings to interview voters where a man could not get by the elevator boys and the superintendents," she said. It was as election captain that she joined in the clubs activities. Her ability was such that the district leader, James J. Hines, nominated her to be- come joint leader with him. (Every assembly district has an equal number of men and women leaders; together they form the executive committee of Tammany) Club members confess that Mrs. Stewards machine is more effec. tira thar thnt of tha man