Evening star., 1939-02-21
Miss Stevens 10 Keep
lnfer-American
Post, She Reveals
Pun-Americun Union
Board Names Chairman,
Spokesman Claims

Miss Doris Stevens isn't going to
stop being chairman of the Inter-
American Commission of Women
just because the President appointed
some one else to represent the
United States on the commission,
she has revealed.
The Pan-American Union Govern
Ing Board appoints the chairman,
Miss Stevens pointed out yesterday
through spokesman, and until the
board appoints new chairman she
will continue to report for work at
the commissions Offices in the Pan
American Union
The State Department claims that
Miss Stevens isn't an official men,
ber of the commission, that the
United States never had an official
representative on it until the Presi-
dent appointed Miss Mary WinsloW
several weeks ago.
Has Held Post 10 Years.
Miss Stevens. who founded the
commission, was made its chairman
by the Pan-American Union Gov
erning Board 10 years ago. Although
the articles of the commission pro-
vide for rotating chairman, Miss
Stevens has held the job, non-pay-
Ing position, since its founding.
The State Department, in an
nouncing the White House appoint
ment of Miss Winslow, said Miss
Stevens has very ably fulfilled her
duties during the 10 years of the
commissions existence"
The official release explained the
Lima Conference had set up the
Inter- American Commission as a
permanent official body acting as an
advisory committee to future con-
ferences. The 81 governments were
asked to appoint one representative
each as soon as possible and the
United States appointed Miss VIM
slow.
The resolution setting up the
commission as permanent body
specified that the American
Union governing board appoint as
chairman of the commission "one of
the members thereof"
Retention is Urged.
The National Woman's Party,
however, of which Miss Stevens
Is a member, has requested the
governing board to retain Miss
Stevens as chairman. 1t goes on
to claim that Miss Stevens is an
official member of the commission
having been appointed by the
governing board.
Meanwhile DR.. Leo S. Rowe, di-
rector of the Pan-American Union,
Is striving to keep out of the argu-
ment.
Il don't propose to be drawn into
this controversy" he declared AS
for appointing a new chairman,
he said he wasn't even sure the
governing board would consider the
matter when it meets March l.
The question of who should oc-
cupy the commission Offices is an
other matter he wouldn't discuss
although Miss Florence Kratzig,
secretary of the commission, says
it's the chairman's Office and there
fore Miss Stevens should continue
working there.
Miss Winslow hasn't come to the
Office. She said she had no idea
what work Miss Stevens was doing
and explained her own work would
not start until the commission is
set up and chairman appointed.
Equal Rights Issue.
Involved in the question of Miss
Stevens present status is the equal
rights issue The National Woman's
party is lined up for equal rights for
women with men in industry. Miss
Winslow is leader of the opposite
faction, which opposes the equal
rights amendment and favors pro-
tective legislation for women. She
is chairman of the group which op-
poses the amendment in the Wom-
ems Joint Congressional Committee.
Organizations represented in the
group are the National League of
Women Voters, the National Wom-
ems Trade Union League, of which
Miss Winslow is a member; the Ma
tional Council of Jewish Women, the
American Association of University
Women, the National Young Wom-
ems Christian Association and the
National Consumers League. Co.
operating with the group is the Ma
tional Council of Catholic Women.
Protective legislation was prin-
ciple of the declaration of women's
rights passed at the Lima Confer
eOce