Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15


concerning the preservation OF
Great Falls region and the up
L per Potomac River gorge to the
resolutions committee OF the
General Federation of WomsnS CluoS
before the date set as the limit Tor all
resolutions to be considered at the San
Antonio biennial this past May caused
the measure TO be pigeonholed oy the
committee when it was introduced al
{ San Antonio as an emergency measure:
hv the MARYLAND State Federation OF
9 women's Clubs.
a The committee voted that II was not
an emergency measure, as the condl-
tions which prompted 1t proposed legiS~
Istion permitting the Harvesting OF the
Falls for commercial purposesl we're
common knowledge long before the tune
set for all resolutions to be in the hanos
of the committee.
Washinstonians and residents OF
Maryland and Virginia interested III
the preservation of the scenic oeauueS
In and around the Capital were
anxioIslv awaiting reports of the sue
cess or failure of the resolution when
would have enlisted the support Of the
entire group of federated clubs in pre-
venting the erection of dams and power
nlants completely obiteratins misty
cascades of the Falls. the canal engl-
neered by George Washington ana the
incomparably beautiful gorge OF the
upper Potomac River. "a,
While naturally disappointed IN itS
failure to come before the o1eIiIllat
hoov those interested feel that there
is silver lining 10 the cloud in the
renort that the measure is to be pre-
sented 10 the resolutions committee IN
erunle time TO be included among those
tn be considered next Spring at the
annual council meeting, ProVldeo tlal
No action is taken upon the leglSla-
tion threatening the Falls before the
council meets. the general federation
NAV vet be able to get behind the
National Park and Planning Commits
sion and. lend It's united strength 10
the fight being waged for the preSerVa-
tion of the Great Falls region as
national park. with appropriate APP
proaches making it accessible to the
thousands of visitors who come 10
washington each year.
In the meantime ii Is UNDERSTOOD
that other State declarations are going
m follow the example set by Maryland
and the District of Columbia groups,
and mass measures individually m
6orSinr the cannc- bill which provides
fhet appropriations be granted the PARK
snd Planning Commission for its prof.
ect. and protesting against otner nlliS
which would allow the region to be oeS-
ecrated by the erection OF power
plant and dam below the Fans
A compromise measure, when PRO-
: vides for the preservation OF the faIls
anS the canal site and at the same
time would permit of some commercial
nse of the water power (above the
faIlsl NAV receive the support OF the
vornen's clubs. as l. has been approved
already by the Park and Planning Com
mission as an alternative 70 the project
originally planned by them.
Had the Maryland Federation reso-
hutton been presented in regular oroer
tn the resolutions committee II Is
thought BY officials of the Federation
, that it undoubtedly would have passed
the convention. as sympathy Is strong
among the club women for preserva-
tor of natural scenery throughout the
country and especially that around
washington. the national shrine.
But as 1t was it did not reach the
floor of the convention. The resoiu-
tons committee. passing upon emef-
rency measures in closed session was
unable TO grant 1t a hearing, because
AZ its lack of emergency features. Ac-
cnrdiur to ore member OF the COM
uajttee. had they done so number OF
other measures which were not emer-
rencv in nature would have had TO be
allowed. and this would be defeating
the ends of the ruling on resolutions
10 be introduced at biennial sessions
we have found this ruling neces-
ssry." said Mrs John z. Sippel, newly
elected president Of the General Fed
Grafton. in commenting upon the situa-
ton. in order to assure the clup
women an opportunity TO digest pro-
posed measures. and IN TINS way DC
them at conventions. All resolutions
not of a distinctly emergency nature
land BY that ] mean resolutions made
necessary By conditions arising after
tie date set for measures TO be in the
hands of the committee) must be
turned over to the committee several
weeks before the date of the biennial
meeting in order that copies may be
sent out 10 every State group for their
consideration. Resolutions not ham
died in this manner must OF a neces-
sity be acted upon by the delegates
without previous consideration, and we
wish to keep the number OF such meas
ures reduced To a minimum.
The Maryland Federation's measure
concerning the Great Fails Of the Po-
toniac was not of an emergency nature,
as the conditions prompting 1t had
arisen so many months in advance Of
its proposal that there would have been
ample time 70 file it with the COM
nittee."
CTUDY OF the 1923 political plat
A. forms is being urged upon all
voters. and especially the women of the
cogntrv by the National League of
Women Voters, az one Of the first
requisites in this presidential campaign.
The league has published the plat
ferns in a convenient pocket edition
which may De obtained at the head
quarters on Seventeenth street at r,
opposite the State Department
Miss Belle Sherwin Of Cleveland
president Of the league. has made
statements recently upon both the Re.
publican and Democratic platforms
which reflect the attitude Of her 0rgani-