Evening star., 1928-05-13

posed program recommends that perma
nent registration be adopted by the con-
vention for legislative support.
: Again, 1t was familiarity with the
direct primary through study and sup
port since 1921 which led the conven-
) ton In 1924 to include shorter bal
lot in the section Of the program OF
work recommended for legislation,
Political reformers have been rather
deSultory in respect TO the short ballot.
DO We in the league wish to concen-
trate our energies upon it, Or is there
something more fundamental to general
and persistinS participation in govern
ment which we must seek and find and
use?
II think there is something more
fundamental--tha until men and wom-
en- are conscious. of their citizenship
as an active principle In their lives.
external helps toward participation in
government will always fall short Of
ballot. determined and vigorous. ought
not to be left undone, but the slow
weaving of individual interest begins to
function of itself and finds its own ex-
preston III obedience to law or in cast
ing ballot,
Personal interest in government may
begin anywhere as long as somewhere in
the round of Titles which large life
| compound'-in corporation taxes or the
baby's food in the electric light bill or
in calendar reform, What makes the
connection depends upon what one does.
where one lives. with whom one talks.
Wherever the beginning is made, per-
sonal interest leads--or may be led--to
/ inquiries and discoveries. One finds or
/ belongs to a group with a similar inter-
: CT n q
Of information which it is natural to
appropriate. Other groups with oppos-
ing interests appear, possessing a dis
concerting store OF counter-informatlon
Friends and reighbors belong to both
groups. 1t becomes necessary to have
more knowledge about the starting point
! of interest, and to have confidence In
ones knowledge,
"At this stage of experience 1t is
good fortune to realize that taking part
in popular government has actually
begun--in seeking to think for oneself
what government ought to do in any
single instance-in regard TO corpora
ton taxes or teaching infant hygiene.
The next step is to find sources of
recorded information which can be
trusted and to test what Is gathered
by whatever experience and current
I
the disturbing opposition Finally, what
bears, these tests must be circulated as
widely as may be.
"Try TO see the public interest in
compelling forms The founder of the
league has challenged us to be bold
and We need TO be. The first presi-
dent OF the league taught us by the
most persuasive example to be per-
sistent That should never cease 10 be.
Out Of the four years in which have
| been learning more surely what the
! league has to do and how 1t can be
done. / say. be confident You may
be--and in confidence. believe, shall
be your strength today"
y 4 -
CENATOR THOMAS FRANCIS BAY
~ ARD of Delaware will be the
speaker at the regular forum luncheon
! OF the Woman's National Democratic
Club tomorrow The subject of Senator
Bayard's talk will be The Battle
Under Cleveland" This is the third
Of the War Against Privilege" series
The father of Senator Bayard was
Secretary OF State during the Cleveland
administration and later Ambassador
} to the court Of st. James. The present
Senator is the fifth descendant of the
Bayard family TO serve as United States
Senator from Delaware. so he comes
well qualified TO speak to the Demo-
cratic women Of Democratic party
activities.
On Friday, May 10, Ashton C. Shall
lenberger. Representative from Me-
braska, will speak at the Woman's Ma
tional Democratic Club. His subject
will be Guaranteed Bank Deposits .
! This Is In the current political topic
| series which has proved so popular with
the members Of the club and their
I friends.
Mrs. Frank Hiram Smell. chairman
Of the executive committee of the
Woman's National Democratic Club
and Mrs Hertram Chesterman are in
charge Of arrangements Of the Tuesday
morning bridge parties Of the Woman Is
National Democratic Club. Twenty
tables OF bridge. made up OF members
OF the club and their friends enjoyed
the first OF these bridge mornings on
Tuesday. Reservations may be made
by members for themselves and friends
by telepnoning the club
The sixth OF a series of'te" lectures
on public speaking will be given by DR.
George Farnham o. George Washington
University on Friday morning at 10 80
o'clock at the Woman's National Demo-
cratic CiuD. 1926 New Hampshire
avenue. Those intcretted may secure
information by telephoning the club
o. Mrs. e. G. Dill, wife OF the Senator
from Washington. who Is in charge oi
arrangements
Mrs. Charles z. Bolton. Democratic
woman leader Of Richmond. was a guest
at the Womans National Democratic
Club during the past ten days. She
returned TO her home In Richmond
yesterday.
Mrs. c. w. Mattox Of Richmond has
been a guest at the Worhan'g National
Democratic Club during the past week
Miss Caroline Reilly who resides al
the Womsns National Democratic Club
spent th@ week end at Rryn MaWr
where she enjoyed the Spring festiya
OF the college sa guest Of friends.
-
THE National Executive Board OF tbs
National League of American Per
Women held the final meeting OF tht
club year and the first meeting Of the
new administration under Mrs Clarence
NJ Busch, newly elected national presj.
! dent last Monday evening AZ n'ptofE