Evening star., 1938-05-06
STRONG SUPPORT
FOR VOTE IS WON
League of Women Voters
Indorse Petitions Up
for Hearing.

Vigorous support is being built up
by the National League of Women Vot-
ers throughout the country with a view
to bringing forcibly to the attention
Of the House Judiciary Committee at
hearings May l8 and 10 the demand
Of thousands of Americans for District
of Columbia suffrage
This was disclosed by Mrs. Louis
Gutenberg. president of the Voteless
District of Columbia League of Women
Voters. who headed the local delega-
tion recently to the national conven-
tion of the League at St. Louis.
A. a result OF activities of the local
delegation in making progress along
several different fronts at the con-
vention. the movement for support of
ths two pending joint resolutions for
District of Columbia votes is still gain
ing momentum in preparation for the
hearings
Broadens support.
The national convention OF the
league. by official action, broa dened the
scope of its support for suffrage here
In effect it put the strength OF this
big organizat ation of women behind both
the pending CapperNorton, and the
Lewis Randolph joint resolution for
constitutional amendments. Tech
nically. what the convention did was
10 change the wording of its declara-
tion on the work program" in regard
to the District Of Columbia suffrage
movement. Instead of declaring for
Federal suffrage" for this city, the
language was changed to eliminate the
single word Federal This left the
work program committed to suffrage
for the District of Columbia" which
means the support of both joint reso-
lutions pending before the House
Judiciary Committee
From all parts of the country. Mrs
Gutenberg said today leaders of the
National League of Women Voters are
preparing to let their members Of
Congress knows that the league favors
District suffrage
After the new drive for suffrage
here had been explained to the ma
tional convention of the league in
several places on the program re-
quests began coming in for htera ture
explaining the situation. A large sup
ply Of three-paee statement on the
subject was taken to the conven on
and generously distributed tl!"re.
State Leagues Get Data
Supplies of statements now are be d.
ing sent from the Voteless League here
to leagues in other States to tell the
story Of the voteless Westinghouse
and the hearings.
The delegation from the National
Capital % the leagues convention
presented t. cause in manv differ
ent WAYS. l. had Two neu angles from
which TO approach the subject and
bring 1t to be attention of the CON-
vertion. First It wanted to chance
the language of the work pl > ram"
and secondly it wanted to bring to ,he
delegates the new drive Leading up to
hearings here this month
Washington's campaign first came
" the attention of the conference
when State presidents of the league
commented on the annual report OF
Miss Marg erite NJ Wells of 7hts
city. national president Mrs. Often
herg as State president from Wash
ington. D. c.. addressed the 400 uele-
gates from 30 States She declared
that this league here had a different
status because none of its memDerS
could vote. and that it must of ne
cessity become pressure group"
despite the fact that loca; leagues
generally we're advised not TO become
pressure groups" She explained the
pending legislation and a1nnunced
hearings.
Emphasizes Plight.
Mrs. Charles Weston. chairman of
the VoteleSs Leagues Department of
Government and Its Operation. ex-
planned to the leagues national depart
ment of the same name the plea of
Washington. While the convention
RNIltIdlly was Sbdby Va SON-
ernment. she pointed out it was perth
nent that the group from the National
Capital had no vote. no voice in the
Government which was being studied.
The problem also was brought person.
ally TO the attention of various dele
gates by Mrs. Gutenberg. and by 9TH
ers from this city. including Mrs.
Gordon Wagenet, Mrs. Charles L.
Hodge. Mrs. Elwood Street, Miss Flor
enre Kirlin. national congressional
chairman, and Mrs. Harris T. Bald
win
In presiding ever the Department Of
Government and Its Operation, Ma
tional Chairman Mrs Walter S.
Greenough Of Indianapolis declared
that so much progress had been made
on the suffrage issue in the District
OF Columbia in the past six months
that the question merited attention of
the national league.
The national board of the league
considered the proposed amendment
tn its declaration on District suffrage.
and by unanimous vote recommended
1t to the convention, where it was
formally adopted. The national league
had first gone on record in favor of
national representation in 1923, but
Mrs. Weston insisted this year the
Voteless League asked more than a
mere reiteration. 1t asked for the
change in language. and more active
support. She spoke both before her