Evening star., 1939-12-16
Amendment Grantinq
Equal Rights 10
Women Forecast
National Womun's Porty
Points to Determinations
As Conference Opens


Points to Determinations
As Conference Opens
Swift adoption of constitutional
amendment granting women equal
rights throughout the Union was
demanded-and forecast-by speak
ers at the opening dinner of the
biennial conference Of the National
Woman's Party at the Cosmos Club
last night.
Suffrage was only one phase of
the fight to end discrimination be-
tween the sexes, party leaders en-
phasized, and the many remaining
barriers to equality-laws and GUS
toms-can be wiped out with a SIM
pie amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution.
Senator Radcliffe, Democrat, OF
Maryland came out Fundamentally
for the proposed amendment which
the woman's party has had intro
duced at every session Of Congress
for 20 years.
Would Correct All at Once.
Why, he asked, should discrimina-
tory practices against woman be
removed slowly, by indirection, when
there is a direct method Of ending
them at once?
Why" he added, should any in
telligent person, man or woman, be
deprived of rights? I availed my
self of the first opportunity to vote
for woman's suffrage. Today you
are continuing with another for
ward step. I don't know of any
sound reason why you shouldn't go
all the way at this time and wipe
out all discrimination"
Women, Senator Radcliffe pointed
out, no longer are merely the min
istering angels described by the
poets, but are faced with all the
practical problems men must solve.
There is, he declared. but one way,
to see that discriminatory legisla-
ton against any element in our
population is ended for all time.
Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley, chairman
of the National Woman's Party,
toastmistress at the banquet, told
the delegates from all sections Of
the country:
Those of us who have worked
with the party ever since Alice
Paul came to Washington in 1912
have spent Is years with our eyes
fastened on one goal-to secure
equal opportunities for men and
women
Sentiment Crystalizing.
The major political parties have
a wonderful opportunity at this
time. We are on the eve of pres
idential election year, 1910. We feel
that the sentiment for the equal
rights amendment is suddenly crys-
talizing with the same rapidity so
apparent 20 years ago, when women
won the fight for the vote.
I'VE believe the equal rights
amendment will soon be a part Of
the Constitution of the United
States. 1t remains to be seen which
major party will have the political
sagacity to give the necessary shove
by sponsoring 1t. The party that
does will reap the benefit-the graf
itude of women from end end OF the
country to the other-for extending
to them full constitutional rights
with men.
approximately so per cent of the
entire vote cast at the last general
election was cast by women. 1t
would be stupid for any party to
deny to so large a proportion of the
voters equal rights under the Con-
stitution."
Mrs. Wiley pointed to the increas-
ing number of women in public Of
fee as an encouraging sign, but
only a start" She added:
"On six different occasions when
women have appealed their cases to
the Supreme Court for the right to
practice law. for equal nationality
rights with men, for the right to
contract for the sale of their labor
and for the right to be tried by q
jury on which there were women
jurors, they have been turned down
Women have attained some Of these
rights in the State, but today they
are forced to depend upon the fluc-
tuating good nature Of State Legis-
latures."
Sees Reactionary Philosophy.
Declaring a constitutional amend
ment safeguarding women's rights
permanently was the only answer,
Mrs. Wiley asserted that ever since
relationships raised their heads in
Europe women have been losing
ground. Reactionary philosophy re-
garding women may seem foreign
to the United States, but it has
poisoned thought in many countries
in Europe that seemed immune, and
it is poisoning thought here
Mrs. Wiley added: Would it not
be consistent at this time, when de-
mocracies are pleading the cause Of
democracy, for our Nation to lead
the way and extend to its women
citizens the same constitutional safe
guards that men now enjoy?"
Mrs. Wiley directed attention to a
large cartoon on the wall behind
her, drawn by Clifford Bergman Of
The Star. Mr.. Bergman had por-
trayed plodding OK cart, with an
airplane just above it. This was
symbolic OF the attitude of the Ma
tional Woman's Party that OK cart
methods of emancipating women
should not be used in this day of
planes.