Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
BY CoRINNE FRAZIER.

a
n tenth anniversary convention Of
N the National Federation OF
"A Business and Professional Won-
en- held at Mackinac Island,
Mich. last week were the stimulating
addresses of speakers representing a
variety of interests, both on TINS ana
the other side of the Atlantic. None
had a more vital message to leave with
the great conclave OF clubWomen than
their own President, Miss Lena Made
sin Phillips, and Miss Charl o. Will
iiams of Washington, national educa-
ton chairman, whose report on the
detectives of her group and the work
40 far accomplished was both interest,"
ing and enlightening
Among the other speakers OF note
we're Representative Ruth Hanna NC
Cornick of Illinois, Miss Bessie g.
Mott, we'll known in the banking world;
Alvin Dodd of Chicago and DR.. Maria
Castellani of Rome, Italy, founder OF
the Business and Professional Women s
Clubs in Rome and Milan, whose vivid
personality and imprisoned plea Tor
the immediate organization OF an IN
ternational federation Of business ana
professional women made a deep I'M
preston on all who heard her.
Such an alliance would help women
greatly in their own work" DR.. Castel-
lanl QeClATSOs 1ICy arc CAlPH4Cu 1AO"
for want Of an international inter-
nnediary. Today many businesses and
professions are directly connected with
the International relations field. But
thus far the men have all the ad-
vantage in such professions. All the
most important international positions
are held by them. Very few women
are In the international relations field
and they hold only the smaller posi-
tions in international bodies.
TT business and professional women
need international help they have to
90 to associates other than their own,
because, even If the federation Is very
powerful in their own country 1t has no
international standing.
This could and should be rernedied,
As women get a wider acquaintance
internationally, as they learn more
about international affairs, they are
going to make themselves felt IN all
these international organizations.
Il do not need to tell my audience
of tonight how rapidly the Federation
of Business and Professional Women's
Clubs is growing In the United States.
It is growing rapidly. too, in Italy,
although 1t is an infant movement
a little less than year old. 1ts I'M
portance in these two countries Is an
index of how successful an interna-
tional federation will be. This great
federation in the United States is so
powerful and well organized that !
wish all the world of business and
professional omen to have relations
with YOU. The commanding position
Of the United States among nations
puts you In a position to spread this
great idea as no other nation could at
the present time"
4 +
EFERRrNG to the National Fedora
IN ton Of Business and Professional
Women as the one clear voice to
sneak for united business women, eno
recommending the formation OF prac-
teal national reciprocity progI IN
whereby women may help each otner
systematically in gaining success In the
business and professional world, MISS
lena Madesin Phillips. national presl-
dent. told the delegates at the conVen-
ton: "It Is our job to champion the
adva nee of womankind wherever oppor-
tunity may offer"
1T is generally admitted 6y ex-
nerienced feminists," Miss Phillips
edded Chat the entire woman move
ment has struck an impasse. There
is a deadline in business, in the pro-
fessions. in politics beyond which many
men. ever more consciously, determine
we shall not pass. An occaelonal
woman, the unusual, the acc1o>ntal'
the accessory wife or daughter OF gov
ernor or corporate director. may prove
an exception. But for the rank ano
Ale of us there Is neither equal oppor-
tlnity nor equal pay.
Certain It Is that part Of our tunc-
zion as a federation is to deal with THIS
situation as best We may. Principles
are in my opinion more vital than per-
sonalities. but when no economic or po-
1itical principle is involved. the success
of every woman Is the obligation and
opportunity Of every other woman. Ana
when we, as a group, rise above envy
jealousy, our fear of feminine compe-
tition, and are ready. even eager, to
push forward rather than trip up an
other qualified, aspiring woman, then l
believe we will have overcome our
greatest obstacle to equality.
1.-The barrier which I help to break
down that my sister may pass can no
longer stand as the wall which limits
me. Some faint glimmer OF her glory
will fall in reflection upon us all.
It unhesitatinRly advocate patronage
Of women by women. This statement
will be criticized on the ground that
there should be no sex determination.
True but such discrimination already
exists, and q drastic method Of eliminat-
ing 1t Is to be found in the promotlon
of women by women. We speak glibly
of freedom and equality and our lack
of them. Within ourselves, individually
and as a group, lies the only power to
break our chains When women have
plumbed the depths of this truth, then,
and not until then, will we realize the
reality of equality.
ut has often been said that women
will not help each other. This we en-
pfatically deny. There is an earnest
desire upon the part of the many to
be helpful, but there Is much indeci-
sion and confusion as to how this may
be done. The failure Is largely of
method, not of intent. Therefore, I pro-
pose a special committee to submit to
our clubs practical business reciprocity
program. An experiment in this was
tried successfully last Autumn by the
exposition Of. women's arts and indus
tries in New York. Each member of q
group Of volunteers selected from her
own acquaintance FIVE women whose
product or skill she considered worthy
of the patronage of hef friends. She
systematically promoted these for pc.
Rod of three months and proved that
astounding results may be thus OBJ
tanned. One of our clubs in Mississippi
also used the plan with real success.
49,