Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
BY CORINNE FRAZIER.
ENDORSEMENT Of the ruling

n ENDORSEMENT of the ruling OF
the biennial council of the Gen
eral Federation Of Womens Clubs
Il made at West Baden, Ind. June,
1925, regarding acceptance by all
member clubs of legislation passed
by a ma ority vote Of the organiza-
ton, was reaffirmed by the executive
committee of the Kentucky federation
this past week at a meeting held in
Louisville and attended by Mrs John
Dickinson Sherman. national presl-
dent, who presented to the committee
for the first time complete state
ment of the attitude of the general
federation toward the obligations OF
the minority.
The action Of the State committee
Indicated definite disapproval OF the
attitude of the Louisville Woman
Club, a member group which has
taken the stand that the minority
should not have to acknowledge legiS-
lation of which ii does not approve,
even though such legislation has been
adopted by the organization as a
whole.
Mrs. Sherman has released in full
the statement of the national eXecu-
tive committee concerning this prob
lem, which has caused much discus
sion among clubwomen of the fedora
ton as we'll as in the press. 1t Is
given below with answers to charges
and misstatements which have arisen
in connection with the passage OF the
minority rights" resolution OF the
Louisville Womans Club.
/. THE Responsibility of Clubs in
Supporting Legislation lndorsed by
the General Federation of Women $
Clubs was one of the subjects dis
cussed in open forum at the biennial
council. June / to 5, 1925, at West
Baden, Ind At the close of the dis
cussion the president of the Louisville
Woman's Club asked the president OF
the general federation, Mrs. sherman,
for her opinion regarding the rights
of the minority in connection with a
legislative program Endorsed by the
federation.
Mrs. Sherman gave her parliament
ary opinion as follows: I'm my opin-
ion the biennial convention and the
biennial council cannot be considered
separate from the general federation.
Through the delegates at these
meetings the federation has it's OPP
portunity to record its stand upon
questions. When resolution has
been adopted at such a meeting, either
unanimously or by a majority, it
should be considered the action of the
state declarations or individual
clubs opposed to the action taken
should not conduct a campaign in the
name of the State or club in oppo-
sition TO that of the general federation.
individual members of the State
federation or individual members of
clubs are free to enter campaigns in
opposition as individuals, not as clubs.
In no other way can the general fed
Grafton speak as an organization. ;"
This opinion, which later became a
ruling, places 20 restriction OF any
sort upon individual club members.
They are In no way required TO work
for and are free to work against meas
ures of which they disapprove. 1t
simply meant that campaigns shall
not be conducted in the name of club
Or State federation against measures
Endorsed by the General Federation of
Womens Clubs.
2. TheFdelegates al the West Baden
Council meeting moved that the presi-
dents statement "be adopted as the
will of the convention" and it was so
voted unanimously. This vote
showed that the opinion expressed by
Mrs. Sherman was directly in line
with the thought of the council dele
gates, as 1t was with the policy under
which the general federation has been
working for "a years.
3. That the council thought was
also that of the Kentucky State fed
GRAFTON, of which the Louisville Won
ans Club was a member. is evidenced
by the action of the Kentucky fedora
ton at its May, 1926, convention, at
which the West Baden council action
was Endorsed by an overwhelming ma
jority.
4. That the opinion of Mrs. Sher-
man, adopted as an expression of the
council and Endorsed by the kentucky
State Federation. is also the thought
of the whole body of the General Fed