Evening star., 1933-12-10
women ORGANIZED
AS RESULT OF BAN
Georgetown Liberals Bore No
III Will, However; History
Reviewed.

Imbued with a zeal akin to that
which long ago moved woman suffrage
leaders, women of Georgetown founded
the Progressive Citizens Association of
Georgetown almost seven years ago
when they were barred from participa-
ton in the meetings Of a mems civic
group.
Under leadership of Miss Eta Tag
gart, attorney and daughter of the lats
Hugh Taggart. prominent lawyer who
wrote the history of Georgetown, a
group of Georgetown residents signed
applications for membership in pro-
posed new organization.
Seek to Avoid Conflict.
I'VE have no desire to cause a con-
flict of organizations in this commu-
nity." Miss Taggart said at the time,
but as long as women are banned
from the Georgetown association there
Is legitimate field here for another
association"
Assuming the attitude that the men
who barred them were merely "old
fashioned" and in need of an object
lesson of the value of the feminine
touch in civic work, nearly two score
women met at the Curtis School on
December 2, 1926, and joined a perma-
nent organization of their own. It was
called the Progressive Citizens Asso-
citation of Georgetown.
Miss Taggart was elected temporary
chairman and in presiding over the
meeting she made 1t plain the as
sociation was not formed in an antago-
nistic spirit on account of their treat
ment at the hands of the mems group,
but rather on the theory that Washig-
ton women generally were playing i'm
portant roles in citizens associations
and that Georgetown women did not
intend to be deprived of some repre-
sentaticn.
Miss Taggart Elected.
The Pfogressives next met on Janu-
ary 81, 1927, when they elected Miss
Taggart president. Others on the first
slate of officers were Mrs. Leon Arnold,
first vice president; Ambrose Durkin,
second vice president: D. F. Dumberth,
third vice president; Mrs. j. Daniel Fry,
secretary; Mrs. William Hurley. treas
urer. and Mrs. Wallace Streater, par
Humanitarian. Miss Taggart and Miss
Cora Ossire were chosen delegates TO
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions.
All. that was needed to put the
women's association son an even foot
ing with their man rivals was recogni-
ton by the federation, and this was
Forthcoming when the federation met in
March. BY the overwhelming vote OF
48 to Is, the federation elected to ad-
NIT the Progressives.
Warning that It was aiming for q
high place among the civic bodies, the
Progressives Immediately went to work
for community improvements and
sought prominent speakers for its
meetings. At the meeting after its ad-
mittance to the federation, Lieut.. Col.
U. S. Grant, Sd, director of public
buildings and public parks. and Com
dressed the association.
Pageant Is Presented.
On May 26. 1928, the Progressives
held one of the most pretentious public
spectacles ever sponsored here by
civic group That was the National
Historical Pageant, concentrating the
Tooth anniversary of the commence
ment of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. The pageant took place on the
banks of the Potomac River, below
Chain Bridge, and attracted thousands
Of persons.
That year Mrs. Fred T. Dubois,
widow of the Senator from Idaho, was
elected president of the association to
succeed Miss Taggart, who was named
honorary president.
The association met monthly and dis
cussed problems relating to the commu-
nifty and the city in general. 1t be-
came q stanch advocate for national
representation in the District and urged
Congress to give franchise to the citi-
zens of the Capital.
The association sought street and
highway improvements, community
center, removal of the Aqueduct Bridge
and otherwise showed 1t was vitaly in
terested In civic affairs.
Sought Education Department.
It asked Congress to set up a national
department of education with q secre-
taTy in the Presidents cabinet, and at
the same time urged establishment OF
a municipal airport for the District.
Among the associations pet "peeves"
were the Howell bill, giving search and
seizure liberties, and the Jones bill. re-
lating to the appointment Of District
Commissioners outside Of Washington.
It was urged that the three-year resi-
dence requirement Of Commissioners be
extended to even-a longer period.
Besides Miss Taggart and Mrs. Du-
bois, others who have been president of
the Progressives are Miss Mary e. La
zenby, Mrs. Elizabeth T. Sullivan and
Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest, the present
incumbent
Membership Is not restricted to wom-
en- and several prominent Georgetown
men are on the associations rolls.
The association Is not slowing down,
but Is moving along on the even keel
that has given It q place IN the top
flight" Of civic organisations in WASH
ington.
Tablet Honors Aviatrix.
ATCHIsoN. Kans. lD.--A tablet