Evening star., 1932-01-16
WOMEN TO PROTEST
FEDERAL WAGE CUT
Committee of One Thousand
Democrats and Progress
sives Meets Today.

With a strong protest against q
threatened cut in the pay of Federal
employees as its objective, the National
Executive Committee of One Thusand
Democratic and Progressive Women was
scheduled to meet at the willard Hotel
at 2:3o o'clock this afternoon to perfect
an active campaign in opposition to
congressional attempts at salary slash
ing in the Government departments.
Speakers against reduction Of Federal
workers salaries at today's meeting in
clude such prominent leaders as Senator
Smith w Brookhart, progressive Re-
publican, of Iowa Representative John
w. Mccormack of Massachusetts, Mrs.
Elizabeth Smith Edwards, chairman OF
the National Executive Committee OF
the sponsoring organization; Miss Ger.
trude McNally, secretary-treasurer OF
the National Federation of Federal En-
ployes, and Representative James M
Fitzpatrick of New York.
MI. Mccormack will speak on his
proposed legislation for five-day
week; Mrs. Edwards will stress the
inescapable effects of salary reduction
upon the business life of Washington
and Miss McNally will present the
viewpoint Of the Government workers
themselves.
Work for Common Cause.
with an organization network in 10
States, the Committee Of One Thou
sand Democratic and Progressive
Women, less than year old, already
has laid the groundwork for national
campaign to arouse sentiment in
Congress against the injustice Of a
salary cut for Federal employees, the
great majority of whom are stationed
in washington. The purpose of to-
days meeting Is to point out this In
Justice; to demand the same consider
alton for Government workers that
any other unified group OF wage-earners
would receive, and to make that de-
mand effective by working together as
a unit for the common cause.
Assurance of support are coming from
scores of Democratic members in both
the Senate and House, where efforts
thus far to enact legislation reducing
the pay of Government employees have
been sidetracked. The women's organl-
zation also is pledged to work in the
interest of q five-day week and better
employment conditions generally.
Wires Protest of Reduction.
On the eve of the meeting a message
was received from one of the vice chair
men, Miss Mary Curley, daughter OF
Mayor Curley of Boston, protesting that
Government employees, due to the hlgh
cost of living in Washington. are en-
titled to liberal compensation ana urg-
ing the organization to vigorously op-
pose salary slashtng.
Her telegram read: Ihe moVenen.
IN decrease the wages of employees OF
the United States Government deserves
the strongest character Of national re.
huke we are the richest Nation OF
the earth. and Federal employees nave
been for many years underpaid. The
cost of living in Washington is prob
ably higher than any other metropoi-
itan CITY of the country, and the Fed
eral employees for the most exactne
character of work are entitled to liberal
compensation. Your organization should
demand all Democratic members OF the
senate and House of Representatives
unite and vigorously oppose by public
protest this Ill advised, economically un-
sound proposal"
In a statement announcing the meet
ing Mrs. EQWarQS, IldIloIldl ClloA Ainii
called attention to the fact that the
only reason for choosing Government
work, with its low pay and long hours
is the security it affords in times, OF
stress, IF that security is to be taken
from it, what is left she asked.
Proceedings to Be Broadcast.
The meeting this afternoon Is open
to all Government employees and 9TH
ers interested in the movement to safe
guard their salaries. The proceedings
of the meeting, which will be held IN
the Willard Room, are to be broadcast
Jointly over Stations WJSV and VOL
In addition to Mrs. Edwards, ofhcers
of the Executive Committee include
Mrs. Edward M. House, national vice
chairman; Mrs. Duncan U. Fletcher
national vice chairman; Miss Mary
Curley. national vice chairman; Mrs
Peter A. Drury, national vice chairman
Mrs Helen r. Knighton, national
treasurer; Miss Patricia V. Dorm, ma
tional secretary and chairman OF the
Arrangement Committee, and Mrs. Will
liam G. Dowd, national recording Sec