Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29

clerks and numerous others. The
league is unique in that it Is the only
national women's labor organization
in the country.
- Summer Training School in Po-
litical Organization which has been
conducted during the past eight weeks
at the Woman's National Democratic
Club headquarters by Mrs. Minnie
Fisher Cunningham.
AS an outgrowth of this unique
course. offered for the first time this
year to Democratic women leaders
from all over the country. those who
attended the classes have gone home
to organize local and State campaigns,
adapting the principles Of general
campaigning learned at the school to
their local conditions and establishing
classes in their own communities
similar to the one conducted by Mrs.
Cunningham. In this way they are
passing on the campaign knowledge
they have gained as well as the broad
ened point of view they have acquired
through an exchange Of ideas and
opinions with women Of different To-
calities and environments.
In fact, Mrs. Cunningham asserts
derived from the classes this Summer
has been the exchange of points of
view between women of great cities
and those Of rural communities.
The course, which was conducted
free Of charge. included study of
four general topics-permanent club
organization, campaign machinery,
political parties and the Federal Gov
eminent in action. All those who at
II ~ ,P fDx
were housed at the club headquarters
on Connecticut avenue.
Practical application of theories ex,
pounded was the slogan Of Mrs. Cum
ningham in conducting the class
which had for its motto. "A conviction
is useless unless it leads to practical
action"
In addition to teaching the theory
of Government Orga nization the in
structor took the class on tours Of the
Government departments after the
daily sessions, and some idea of the
actual working of the mammoth de-
partmental machinery In Washington
was obtained. "Our entire course was
as practical as brass tacks with no
glittering generalities," said Mrs. Cum
ningham in discussing the unusual
course which she inaugurated.
The women who have gone back
to their own States to organize con-
ferences of schools in political or
ganization left the Summer school
at headquarters prepared to urge
close study of State election laws
with view to improving voting con-
ditions through simplif1ed laws safe
guarding the ballot. The clubwomen
feel that much Of the laxity in voting
is due to the veil of confusion which
surrounds the process Of casting
ballot, caused largely by complicated
laws which are unfamiliar to the av-
erage citizen.
For instance, there Is a law in
Texas that no ballot is legal which
Is not written with black pencil. Many
voters are ignorant Of this rule. If
certain factions desire to have votes
which are apt to prove unfavorable
to their candidate ruled out they have
been known to tie blue pencils to
the tables where ballots are filled in.
The unsuspecting citizen casts his
ballot, not noticing the color Of the
leadpencil provided for his use, and
those votes are thrown out as void
Such laws as this one, the clubwomen
contend, make for Indifferent balloting
and provide too many convenienceS
for the dishonest politician.
Democratic women in Texas are
making n determined fight to have
the election laws simplified. Part of
their campaign has been to urge a
study Of the election laws In all senior
classes of law at the colleges and
universities.
According to the plan outlined by
the clubwomen, the students will be
required, during the course Of the