Evening star., 1927-02-27

~O.OPERATION with the 2,00t
women's Democratic clubs ol
the country through State
conferences and extension oil
the idea developed here at Ma
tional Club headquarters OF haVlns
forum affairs to discuss issues ana
clarity differences between the par
ties are the most important features
of the 1927 program for the Women 5
National Democratic Club as outlined
at the annual meeting of the organl-
zation, held last Wednesday at the
Connecticut avenue clubhouse.
Members and officials of the ma
tional group plan to traVei through
the States, attending conferences, as
sisting in formulating State or ciun
programs, and acting as advisers IN
any matters upon which individuai
clubs desire their assistance. The
Capital organization also expects TO
assist any clubs which appeal to II
for aid in selecting and engaging
speakers for club or State meetings.
The forum supper plan lnaugu-
rated in Washington last Eau has
proved to be so valuable as medl-
UNI of exchange of ideas on political
problems that the Democratic women
are anxious to encourage the adop-
tion of similar plans by the other or
sanizations Of their party. and hope
to have something of this nature
added universally to the club pro-
grams for 1927.
One of the interes :. features of
the meeting was the open discussion
of club problems and ideas for de-
veloping club work suggested by vari-
Gus members of the organization at
the luncheon which preceded the for
NAL business session. According To
Mrs Minnie Fisher Cunningham,
member of the advisory board. some
extremely valuable suggestions were
made which will be used to good ad-
vantage in planning campaign work
In the immediate future.
Mrs Emily Newell Blair, vice chair
man of the Democratic national com
mittee, whose writings have earned
her the title of 1.-The woman with
5000, 900 readers" was the speaker at
the dinner which followed the meeting.
Mrs. Andrieus A. Jones. president of
the club, presided, introducing Mrs.
Blair.
Mrs. Cunningham, who is an expert
on organization, will leave Washing
ton tomorrow for Reading Pa, where
she will attend a tlree-day conference
and school of instruction the purpose
of which is the formation of q State
organization OF women.
Democratic women of Pennsylvania,
according to a report received from
club headquarters, have decided the
time has come for a more determined
effort on their part. Under the lead
ership of Mrs. Mary f. Herbert of
Allentown, vice chairman of the Demo
cratic State executive committee, they
have issued q call to all interested
women to come together and organize
for that purpose. The conference will
open tomorrow in Reading with the
Women's Democratic Club of Berks
County acting as the hostess club.
Mrs. Cunningham win be one of the
principal speakers at the dinner to
be given Tuesday evening in connec-
ton with the conference. Under the
title "It Can Be Done" Mrs Cunning
ham will discuss the possibilities of
accomplishing the purpose of the con.
ference. She recently returned from a
conference of Democratic women in
Ohio and expects to attend u similar
gathering in Kentucky during the
early part OF March.
4 X 4 =
WTNRADITION and party politics
are the greatest foes of the
woman suffrage movement in France"
said Nine. Suzanne Grinberg, French
lawyer and feminist, in recent inter-
view during her visit to Washington.
Nine. Grinberg was the guest of the
League of Woman Voters Thursday
night, at a dinner given in her honor,
and gave an address on French
women and the suffrage cause. In
this interview she gives an interest
ing slant on the attitude of the men
toward the woman's movement.
"Frenchmen of the old school. ac.
customed to considering woman as
being thoroughly dependant and un-
ntted for the responsibilities involved
in enfra anchiesment," said Nine. Grin
berg, ''seem unable to realize the
change that has taken place in recent
years in Wonan's status and i'm her
political preparedness It is from
these older statesmen-members of
our upper house. that we find the
greatest opposition: from these and
from certain party groups aligned
against us, most prominently the
Radical or Socialistic party. They
fear the influence of women in poll
tics.
Yet, even these, within the past
three years, have become more toll
Grant. Only recently the Radicals
admitted women to their party and
in the last congress voted one woman
on their executive committee.
This fact. and one other, we look
upon as encouraging signs that the
new idea is gradually being assin1i-
lated in our country and that d grad
uai change of mind is taking place
where great prejudice existed The
other significant indication came lust
before my departure for America. At
very important meeting of feminists
In Paris in January, there were sew
eral prominent speakers. All of them
~
ing political parties of France. Each
spoke enthusiastically in favor of
granting women the franchise, In
View of the fact that twice suffrage
blils have been passed by the Cham
Der or Deputies, only to be killed nv
the Senate. the change of attitude
indicated I'm this meeting becomes
doubly significant. 1t has made some
OF us feel that the possibility of suf.
frage for women has at last become
strong probability in tradition
bound France. More than that. /
venture to say that it is one of the
4 prospective steps of the near future.
"Women's organizations now stand
solidly for suffrage and there ia a
league of man voters stanchiy sup.
porting the movement. Serving on
committees Of this organization are
prominent politicians and diplomats
Of France.
Among our friends at Parliament
we number many influential men, in.
cluding members of the Bloc National
NJ. Poincare's party; leaders of the
Radicals, recently won over to the
cause and the Labor party. which
was the first TO advocate woman suf
frage. This party has stood back OF
us since 1889. NJ. Herriot. former
minister of finance and head of the
Radicals, is a stanch advocate of the
tcause.
Our greatest advance in the suf