Evening star., 1928-12-30

NEW cAFb UlCoonHO N%NF-
n ing a wish which is near 10
"A the heart of every cluhwoman
4 j is broadcast by MISS 6eiie
Sherwin, president OF the Ma
Eonal League of Women voters
ION the eve of the new year there
are women in all the States OF the
Union who will greet 1929 in the eager
hone that there may be written into
fhe law of the land a way to continue
to meet familiar and grave necessity"
saws Miss Sherwin. '1ney look for,
and will strive for. tne assurance OF
a national provision which through
STATES counties and townships will be
Ehe means of saving babies lives.
"IJnder provisions which will end
m .J,Ine. 1929, an inspiring record has
heen made of a leSSening death rate
rf infants Examination of the facts
makes plain that ways to lower that
rate still further have been found. The
comparative rates for this and other
countries show the obligation to con-
ainue the influence of the lessening
factors.
Thus one hope of the new year
brings added responsibility to women
who face those facts.
MY wish for the new year is that
the facts may become common knowl-
edge; that new vision may grow
OF the Nations wealth as sprung from
its chlldren'S health, and that there
may be steadily widening understand
ing and correction of the reckless
wastefulnesS which is what the annual
death rate of mothers and babies in
this country means.
i wish that men and women alike
would greet this new year with the
strength of resolution, mindful of the
prophecy of old-'A little one shall
become a great nation.'".
x X
THE Michigan State Normal College
- League of Women Voters at Ypsil-
anti. of which Miss Evelyn Morris is
president, is the winner of the $25
prize offered by the National League
OF Women Voters for the best 1000
word report of getting out the student
vote of the college in the 1928 election
This award was based on the report
submitted by Miss Katherine Meany,
the national league has announced
Selection of the prize-winning essay
was made by Miss Gertrude Ely of
Bryn Mawr, Pa, counselor on new
voters for the national league. Four
other entries were given honorable
mention in the following order: The
league at the University of Wisconsin,
Madison Wis; Washington University
League, st. Louis; Maryland State
Normal School League, TowSon, Md;
st. Cloud (Minnesota) State Teachers
College League. The contest was open
TO any league organized in college,
university or normal school whose
afhliation is recognized by the State
league.
The winning league obtained a list
of all students of voting age, made
personal telephone canvass and checked
up, after election, on the actual number |
who voted. The check-up showed that |
IL per cent of the eligible voting STU |
dents participated in the election, most |
OF these through the utilization of facili-
ties for absentee voting.
The league for 13 days preceding the |
election conducted an information table |
for voters in the Administration Build |
ing of the Michigan State Normal COL |
lege, one of its members being commits |
stoned notary public in order to facili- |
tate service to absentee voters. A meet
ing with speakers en- the candidates
and platforms of both parties, and pres
entation Of dramatic skit. "a Day at
the Polls" emphasizing all the techni- |
calitieS of election procedure, were also |
features.
CLUBWOMEN affiliated with the
- General Federation of Women's |
Clubs, especially those who head the |
legislative committees of the organiza- |
tion, are concentrating their thoughts |
and efforts now upon the advancement |
OF the legislative program to be pushed |
by the federation during the short ses-
sion of the Seventieth Congress, which |
convened December 3.
aNct ~
nave been sponsored by the clubwomen |
are the Kellogg BRAND treaty; the |
awes-Cooper bill for regulation of |
interstate commerce in prison-made |
goods; the Capper- Gibson bill establish |
Ing standard qualifications for police |
women and giving legal status to the |
Police Women'S Bureau; the Gillette |
resolution concerning our entrance to
the Permanent Court of International
Justice; the Curtis-Reed bill favoring
Federal department of education; the
George-Reeo vocational education bill
and bills concerning uniform marriage
and divorce laws: the reuniting of alien
families and proposing better operation
OF the merit system in civil service.
A report of the status of the most i'm
portant of these bills has been made by
legislative chairmen as follows:
The HaweS-Cooper prison labor bill.
providing for such regulation of inter-
state commerce in prison-made goods
that will make these goods subject to
the laws of the State into which they
come, passed the House by vote of
S03 to 80 in the last session and has
now become law, having passed the
Senate and received the Presidents S
Q. K. before Christmas.
The passage of this bill IS a big step
toward the abolition of the prison-con-
tract system which has been opposed
for many years by the general fedora
ton. 1t is believed that the three-year
period before the law becomes operative
will give time for such adjustment of
prison industries as will enable prisons
TO supply their goods to unsupported
institutions in quantities sufficient to
keep the prisoners employed.
For years the federation has sup
ported the principles of the Capper-
Gibson bill. which would establish
standard qualifications for police
women and give legal status to the
bureau here in Washington headed by
AIRS. Nina Van Wrinkle. This bill was
Wed December %