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


 Cleveland, beginning June 10. and the Democratic, to be held in New YorA beginning June 21. is a very much agi. tated question, . question that is being discussed on all sides with the ap. proach of the first presidential cam paign since the American women had the privileges of full suffrage rights over the country on the same terml as men.
 It is true that the women had the vote in the election of 1920, but it will be remembered that the nineteenth amendment was finally ratified in Aug ust, too late for women in several states to register, and what is more important after the great national political con ventions had been held.
 So, it is the first time in history that women win have equal opportunity with men, if they care to exercise thess rights, in the choice of candidates and issues. It will be remembered that in 1912 there were only two women among the delegates at the Democratic con vention, and both were from suffrage states. In the 1916 convention in St Louis, there a few more women still from suffrage states were present and in 1920, in San Frareisco, 9d women were delegates and POO alter mates. In the Republican convention, held in Chicago in 1920. there were % women delegates and 1S3 alternates-
 And it is said that at the Repub- lican national headquarters in Wash ington, where the reports are received and records kept from every state in the Union as the primaries and cOnven- tions are held from time to time, it is estimated that the total number of women delegates will be oyer 100. There have been 8 already listed, and official reports are still to be received from California, Indiana, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. Reports from other states are inecm- plete. Two hundred women aIternates having already been listed, it is esti- mated that there will be a total of at least 250 alternates.
 Besides the delegates and alternates there will be- associate members of the national executive committee and mem bers of the national executive commit tee bringing the official list of women to 400 or more.
 It is estimated at the Democratic national convention headquarters in Washington that there will be more than 300 women delegates and about 400 alternates, bringing the total num- Der of official women well over TOO, in- cluding the members of the national committee. These figures are based on the reports from only 20 states as fewer Democrats than Republican pri- maries and conventions have been held to date. But it IS apparent that there will be more women at least in official capacity at the Democratic than at the Republican convention. so reports say.
 As for what women want incOrpOr- ated in the party platform, for the first time both parties have taken steps to gather wOmen's ideas before the cOBven- tions- Chairman Hull, of the Demo cratic national committee, recently ap- pointed Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt, head Nef a committee to which wOmen's or saniZations interested in politics could present their resolutions.
 It is natural that the big wOmen's organizations are likely to make the same requests of both parties. Take the blanks to be presented by the Ma tional League of Women Voters to the platform committees of the political parties. They favor the entry of the United States in to the World Court ; passage of the child labor amendment {; removal of legal discriminatiOns against women and represent a conservative attitude.
 A recent New York Exchange has an interesting discussion of the World Court as an issue
 One also may look for suggestions from the General Federation of Wom- ems clubs, a matter to be discussed at the biennial convention, which begins its session, in Los Angeles on June 8, International relations" are sure to be included, and it is probable that the re- tiring president, Mrs. Thomas G. Win ter, who is expected to become chair man of the Federation's committee on International Relations. will appear in person before the resolutions commit tee at both party conventions The federation already is on record for en- trance of the United States into the Permanent Court of International Justice.
 There is no doubt that the world court will play a star part 50 far as women are concerned at both party conventions, and that they will be guided by the action of the Senate be- fore its adjournment. However, one sees a tendency among republican wOm- en to follow their political leaders in subscribing "a" world court, while the democratic women no doubt will adhere to ''the" world court as the only one we can have
 Another subject is prohibition, though there is a tendency to get away from that bone of contention by calling it flaw enforcement" Some 0ne has said the nineteenth amendment elinch- ed the eighteenth amendment, and it is probable such an assertion will be fortified at the conventions Women also are likely to uphold a plank en- dorsing the efforts of the United States to stamp out the world drug evil, many women's organizations having passed resolutions to this effect during the past few months-
 For the first time women members of the democratic national committee and associate women members (until made full meunbers) of the republican national committee will be found sit ting on the platform with those bodies. Womans voice also will be frequently heard in the nominating speeches, as the honor of secOnding the various nominations of candidates will be al- most entirely delegated to women.
 Recently a favOrite indoor pastime among women has been discussion as to which party is giving more OppOrtu- mites to the new women voters Re publican women have charged that. though there may be more women dele gates at the New York convention, the delegates at large will have only half a vote, whereas at the Cleveland con- vention all women delegates will have q full vote, Replying to this challenge. Mrs. Emily Newell Blair. vice chair