Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-22
W0MAN'S BUREAU !
ESCAPES MUzzL|NC
1t Is Ordered. instead. to
Conduct Probe of Employ
ment Laws.

After an unsuccessful attempt had
been made by delegates from the Ma
tlonal Woman'S Party to silence the
W oman Bureau of the Department
81 Labor from advocating Legislation
lot the protection of women in in
dHStrE. the Industrial Womens Con-
terence at its closing session yester-
DAY adopted a resolution STIMULATING
INA the bureau conduct 'compre-
henslNe inrestiga ton" Of all specia !
laws relating TO employment of wom-
ell to determine their effects
rms partial victory for the Won
al = Party bloc at the convention
was Won after another Of the stormy
! sessions which have threatened the
program Of the convention. Yester-
DAY afternoons excitement. however.
was not marled by hoos and heckling,
as Was Tuesdays. and wa" confined
TO heated dobate
ihe resolution finally adopted vas
presented by a c0muittee represent
ing both factions. composed OF Miss
! Mary Van kleech of the Russell Sage
Foundatlon and q delegate from the
Iaytor Societv: Miss Gail Laughlin.
| representing the Woman's Party. and
MISS Marie Obenauer, delegate from
! the American Society o. University
Women.
Closes With Banquet.
The convention closed last night
! with banquet session held at
fsauscher's. at which addresses we're
made by Mrs. Mary T. Norton. Repre-
! Senta tive from New Jersey: Mrs.
bessie Parker Bruggeman, chairman
! or the United States Employees Com
! penSation Commission: Miss Jessie
-, Dell. member of the United States
! civil Service Commission. and Dr..
Louise Stanley, director OF the Bureau
OF Home Economics OF the Depart
Tnent OF Agriculture. The meeting
vas presided over by Miss Mary Nc
D"Well, commissioner of public vel
/ fare, Chicago
Miss Mary Anderson. director of the
Women's Bureau. Department of La
Dor. was lauded by speakers for her
work at the bureau. Mrs. Mabel
Walker Willebrandt. Assistant Atror-
rev General. and Miss Grace Abbott,
chief OF the Children's Bureau. who
were to speak, We're unable 10 attend.
The resolution which pTecipitated
/ the debate on siiencing the Women s.
! Bureau was introduced by Mrs. Abby
Scott Baker. II read
Whereas equality FOR men and
women III industry is a controversial
matter now before Congress and the
state legislatures.
; Be y resolved. That this CUnNen-
| ton, called together under the
! auspices of the United States De
partment OF Labor. recommends that
! the Wolnen's Bureau make a study
! of the subject and refrain from talk
! ing any position upon il while the
question is pending before these
legislative bodies
Hectic Debate Ensues
Trnmediat ely. hectic debate ensLed
Arguments in support OF the resolu-
ton were made by Doris Stevens Of
New York. Josephine Casey. trade
union organizer; Gail Laughlin
California lawyer; Anita Pollitzer Of
south Carolina and Mabel Vernon o.
Delaware.
this motion. moved that il be adopted
with an amendment striking out the
clause that the bureau refra in from
advocating protective legisla ton
while the matter was pending befor.
legislatures.
Miss Anderson director Of the
bureau. explained that under the
organic act creating the bureau
the director would be obliged 70 go
before congressional committees and
state it's findings and to publish re-
suits Of its investigations.
Miss Melinda Scott. Of the Cloth.
Hat. Cap. and Millinery Workers
Union, who was presiding, had diff
Guilty in maintaining parliamentary
proceedings.
Another amendment was offered
providing that the Nonan'S Bures u
should not advocate protective legis-
lation and that the National Woman g
Party also should not indulge IN tight
ing protective legislation and support
ing the pending equal rights
lnea sure. This amendment was vigor-
ously fought by the Woman's Party
leaders.
The compromise committee then
was appointed. and the solution was
found in d resolution calling on the
bureau 70 make d comprehensive in
vestigation."