Evening star., 1928-05-13

II can UNION NAtAL tAN
opening OF the Office of the In
ter-American Commission OF Women
created By the Pan-American Confer
ence at Havana this Winter, as result
of the activities of feminiSts from the
American countries on behalf OF WON"
ems legal and political status.
Doris Stevens, appointed chairman oi
the committee. the personnel OF when
is being designated by the Pan-Ameri-
can governing board, composed OF the
resident ambassadors in Washington OF
the 20-odd nations and the Secretary
of State for the United States, is In
Washington now making arrangements
for the opening Of her committee mead
quarters.
Miss Stevens conferred last week with
Or Leo S. Rowe, director general OF
the Union, and Miss Isabel MacDermott.
editor of the Pan American Bulletin,
Three other members of the committee
ALREADY have been named, including
Mrs. Charles Dube of Haiti, Dr.. Elvira
A. Lopez de Nelson for Argentina
and Sonora Dona Elena Osprna de
Ospina for Colombia.
The eroup will be empowered to make
international recommendations on the
status of women. The first recommen-
dations probably will be made to The
Hague conference next year. Miss
Stevens conferred this past week with
Richard w. Flournoy, jr., chairman OF
the committee on nationality OF the
Harvard Research Committee. which
Eroup will make report on nationality
tincluding that of women and children)
at The Hague sessions,
Congratulations on the formation OF
the women's committee and upon her
4srak~ rtA q
In upon Miss Stevens from all parts of
the world. including the prominent FEM
mist organizations Of France, England
Germany, Holland and Sweden. The
feminists regard 1t as one of the most
important steps of a decade In the
progress of their campaign for equal
status with men in both their national
and international relations.
UTITH Miss Belle sherwin drafted for
w a third term as president of the
National League OF Women Voters, the
organization is beginning its new admin
istration after the most stimulating as
well as the largest biennial convention
in Its history, which closed It's sessions
recently in Chicago.
Topping the legislative program for
the coming year. as outlined at the
conclave, will be the Endorsement OF
two neasures-Secretary of State Kel-
logg's multi-laterial treaty plan and the
plan for the conduct of congressional
sessions which alters the time for the
convenins and adjournment of sessions
to coincide more nearly with election
dates.
Recommendations for about 40 meas
ures of State legislation and i5 for
Federal legislation are included on the
legislative card, according TO the report
OF Miss Adele Clark of Richmond, Va,
before the conference body. Many Of
these are appropriation measures and
DO not involve the enactment OF new
laws.
A consideration of ways and means
of continuing work under both Federal
and State Jurisdiction on behalf OF
maternity and infancy laws viii occupy
the attention Of the members OF the
legislative committees
DEVELOPMENT of Muscle Shoals under
the plan authorized by Senate Joint
resolution IS and Endorsement OF the
resolution granting Federal suffrage to
the District of Columbia ISenate joint
resolution 49, are two more important
measures which the women voters will
continue TO support.
Miss Sherwin In her presidential ad-
dress before the. convention urged upon
the women anew the necessity of awak-
ening public interest in the duties OF
citizenship. especially in regard TO polit-
fcai obligations.
1T is fitting now" said Miss Sher-
win, in this anniversary year Of 1923,
IN Chicago. where the league was
founded on the eve OF the presidential
campaign OF 1920. TO consider taking
part IN government as an end rather
than a means: what IL definitely re-
osiires Of US, Of citizens generally. OF
women today What ] have 70 say is
not new in idea, but its realization Is
necessary.
7 would not even hint that the edu-
cationsI experiment Of the league is
complete. Far from 1T. The technique
Of all adult education Is only beginning
10 take shape Even in our limited field
Il Is difhcuit TO keep pace with the pos
abilities open 10 us-witness discussion
groups on the radio. We know that
education by and for participation In
government must be continuous. We
have learned that II is.a necessary
process Of popular government.
"lsor 90 wish 70 imply impatience
because the suffrage Of women has not
produced more immediate and striking
results seen either In numbers OF votes
cast or in q marked change In political
habit, VIGOROUSLY Of tough fiber. We
IN the league believe that cnange IN
t,oth instances is practicable. but that
II should come slowly, durably, through
SYSTEMATIC and continuous effort In the
~ sdtsi course Of political development
" omen can now point with pride-tra-
6i sonsi In political Rroupe-~to the In
crease in leyisiation for the protection
of children and the establishment oi
their own legal status.
Il DO rot think this presidential cam
ISign year finds women surprisingly
IN disturbingiy lacking In meeting po-
i1ttezl obligations. ! DO think 1t ooef
snd should put corsplcuously To tht
ffst the work Of the league intended VI
help women meet those Obligatiofs~
but II IL no, final test. Rather. II II
. trying situation " be met with Te1o'
luton now and anticipated with grow
ing confidence In years 70 come.
OBVIOUSLY 8 campaign yesr pressei
the league 10 make the widest I,oaAlois
nss Of whatever methods 1t has found
x,rscticzi In extending political intefes'
and consequently political action,
Five years ego the league frst 80
dressed it's energies specifically JoEaft
Increasing the number of eligible voter
taking psrt in primary and final eiee
fions. undertaking tnen what has sitic'
become popularity known--tn?agn ~
k,gDulsri~-SE getting oat the vote
Sgooslsed IN campaigns by many organ
1zsllons either long established of ne"'
1y organized for tbe pDfpoSe. a yea
ego we summed up our experience ~
this effort by defining the leagues req
Eet-oIt~t1e -yole campaign a. the pro
gram of toe league and the Gonfip'ioD'
1sy.1y-6sy Wgrk W carry II out 49,
sagyeE that occasiogaEl drives ana cam
siZns ere unsuccessful because tEe'
= re- insufficient W relate the interest d
an people " government
Voting is only Interesting II th'
questions lngoIyeo are undeFBtood ant
Ts.e some personal sigpihcanne gotff
reed brief sind Trustworthy infofnDs
1snr readily available They need 4
80 = siesF relation between votes 6fi