Evening star., 1927-03-13

League of Woman Voters-its
present directing orlcer, the
A. second in the chair, and It's
former one--are devoting the
first two weeks of March TO speaking
tours i'm the South and Middle West
Miss Belle Sherwin, the present
president, was the guest of honor al
two State league conventions in the
South this past week She was the
chief speaker at the Tennessee
League convention in Knoxville, and
at the North Carolina League con-
vention in Chapel Hill, n. c. The sub
Ject of her address was "The League
An Adventure in Patriotism"
Miss Sherwin will be in Washington
today for a few hours before she
starts for two other State league con-
Ventions. She will address the Iowa
League convention at Des Moines and
the Kansas League delegates at Law
renee, Kans. She is expected back In
Washington the end of this week.
Mrs. Maud Wood Park. first presi-
dent of the league, is conf1ning her
speaking tour exclusively to Southern
States. Her itinery takes her to two
State league conventions, in Florida
and South Carolina, and to local
league gatherings in Birmingham and
Montgomery, Ala, and Atlanta.
students at the North Carolina Col
lege for Women, Greensboro, n. C.;
Agnes Scott College, at Decatur, Ga,
and the State College for Women. at
Tallahassee, Fla. Mrs. Parks visit to
these colleges was arranged as part
of the leagues program to interest
woman students in citizenship and its
responsibilities. Last year Mrs. Park
made a 10-week speaking tour for
this same purpose and spoke at more
than 40 colleges and normal schools
in II States.
Mrs. Park will return to Washing
ton next week, and will remain here
until after the leagues general coun-
Gil meeting. April $3.50. She will pass
the Spring and Summer months at
her home on the Maine coast.
Because Mrs. Park has had such
notable part in the success of the
Women'S Joint Congressional Com
mittee. and has directed to a very
large extent it's ''lobby" workS there
will be much interest in Mrs. Parks
following comments on Lobbying:
ITO good many thoughtless per-
sons the word lobbying. like the word
politics, has sinister meaning. A
little reflection, however, will con-
vince the fair minded that lobbyists,
AAhO HOAAtANtOaAos cAC AOL VI Oilc CLASS.
They cannot be disposed of as
whole, because they differ widely in
aim and method. The .rightness or
wrongness of what they do depends
upon the underlying purpose of their
work and the way in which it is car
ried out.
IF the underlying purpose is to get
something out of Government that is
contrary to the real interest of the
great majority of citizens, then the
lobbyist is reprehensible; or, if he or
she, even with good purpose, stoops
to unfair methods, the end is ulti-
nately discredited by the means. On
the other hand, If the purpose is bene-
ficial and the methods are fair, the
lobbyist fulfills valuable function"
Discussing further the need of a
lobby that is 'altruistic, that speaks
for large numbers of citizens on mat
ters not financial, a lobby that is
mindful of those without time or
money to present their own case to
the Congress-" Mrs. Park said:
'Such a lobby is supplied by the
little group of representatives of ma
tional organizations of women. the
group that has been called the front
door lobby. because it's purposes are
never concealed and it's methods are
direct and open.
This group of women does not
undertake to harass or coerce the
members OF the Congress. 1t has no
power except as it Is known to rep
resent widespread, intelligent and
earnest public opinion in support of
pending legislative measures or in
opposition to them. Senators and
Representatives are far too busy to
let their time be wasted by persons
who have little or nothing back Of
them.
What the members of the wom-
ems lobby try to do in Washington Is
comparatively simple. They see that
information is furnished in regard to
obscure or misunderstood points of
the Question at issue. They consult
with friends of a particular bill in
side the Congress about legislative
procedure, the arrangement for hear
ings. etc. They keep the members of
their own organizations informed
about the progress of the measures
indorsed by the various associations.
They sit for weary hours in the gal
lery of House or Senate whenever
these measures are likely to come up
and thus they get first-hand knowl-
edge of the tactics of opponents and
the support given by friends.
1.-THE kind of woman sometimes de-
scribed by hostile critics who know
nothing of lobbying, would soon find
the doors of congressional offices
closed to her calls. A woman cannot
do anything except harm to the cause
which she represents if she Is not