Evening star., 1939-07-20
Equal Rights
Anniversary
Is Marked
Pioneers Who Led
Women's Fight
Honored

The first formal observance and
celebration of "Women's Independ-
ence Day." was inaugurated last
night at Alva Belmont House. ma
tional headquarters of the National
Woman's Party. commemorating the
convention of Senaca Falls in l848,
when the first stand was made by
women for equal rights"
The pioneers in the struggle we're
Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady
Stanton. The story Of their work
and that carried down to the present
day was told by Mrs. Harvey w.
Wiley.
Mrs. Wiley, who was one of a
group of women who fought in 1917
to obtain suffrage for women, spoke
of the courage of the two American
women who faced untold opposition
to obtain equal rights with men.
She recalled how Elizabeth Stanton
and Lucretia Mott. both anti-slavery
adherents, had gone to London in
1889 with their husbands to attend
an anti-slavery convention. The
women were refused entrance to the
hall where the meetings convened
and decided then to fight for equal
ity upon their return to the United
States. Two years later, they called
the convention at Senaca Falls and
the declaration of sentiments adopt
ed at that meeting received the
signatures of 100 men and women
Outlines Long Fight.
Mrs Wiley, in outlining the strug-
gle made by women in the past 81
years, urged perseverance in the
continued campaign for equal rights,
stating. The equal rights amend
ment will complete the work so
valiantly inaugurated 81 years ago"
She called attention to the fact
that the National Woman's Party
headquarters stands opposite the
Supreme Court Building and said
that already 80 per cent of the Su-
preme Court justices favored equal
rights.
Helen McGerr presided and in
troduced the speakers. Mrs. Hazel
Nyman read the Declaration of SEN
timents adopted at the Seneca Falls
meeting, now known as the Declara-
ton of Independence of American
Women.
Dorothy Moncure of Virginia spoke
on the objectives and methods of
the National Womens S party, which
is continuing the campaign for equal
rights.
Portland Leader Speaks.
Mrs. Dorothy Sanford Wilson of
Portland, Greg, president of the
League of Professional Women of
Portland, told of the early struggle
for independence among the women
OF the West and present-day efforts
to obtain equal rights.
The League of Professional Wom-
en- of Portland, Greg, asks your CO.
operation in its program that there
be no discrimination as to sex or
marital status in any phase of
human activity" she concluded.
Others on the program included
Maud Howell Smith, who read a
poem, The Pioneers" and Mrs.
Horace Pote. acting chairman Of the
District of Columbia branch of the
party, who explained the status of
the equal rights amendment in Con-
gress and appealed for workers to
carry on the campaign.
The ceremonies concluded with
the reading of another poem. also
The Pioneers, by Helen Hunt West,
editor Of the Equal Rights Magazine.
Receiving the guests were Mrs.
Horace Pote. Mrs. Vera johnson,
chairman of the Government Work.
ers' Council; Miss Anne Carter. Mrs,
Karl Greene, Miss Mary Dean
Powell, Mrs. Ruth Morrell, Miss
Aurelle Burnside and Mrs. Dorothy
Heron Of the District of Columbia
branch Of the party.