Evening star., 1939-03-19
Mrs. Swofford Keeps Busy
With a Job and Five Clubs
Head of Employees Compensation Agency
Called Fine Example of Best
Type of American Woman
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

An al-around, fine example of
the best type of American woman"
is how friend describes Mrs. Jewell
Wood Swofford, chairman of the
United States Employees Compensa-
ton Commission.
A member of five of Washington's
leading clubs, Mrs Swofford is one
OF the prominent Democratic women
who has been asked to speak be-
fore the conference of the Woman's
National Democratic Club and affii-
ated organizations at the banquet
Thursday, concluding the session.
Other clubs to which she belongs
include the City Club, the Quota
Club, the District Voteless League
OF Women Voters and the Business
and Professional Women's Club.
Few women have brought a more
interesting background and train
ing to highly important Govern
ment position than Mrs. Swofford.
Educated as child in Europe,
where her father, retired business
man, moved for his health, Mrs.
SWofford spoke both French and
German as fluently as her native
tongue before she had reached high
school age.
Taught French.
Before her marriage she taught
French In Kansas City high school
and helped out" as well with the
Latin and Greek classes.
Her remark, Nothing once
learned but will some day be of USE"
was proven during the WoHk War
when her linguistic knowled. y was
put to valuable use. Her husband
was "dollar-a-year" man, helping
with war emergency work, and while
visiting him from their home in
Kansas City, Mrs. Swofford was
asked to translate letters to and
from German war prisoners in
American concentration camps.
Before coming to the Capital Mrs.
Swofford was active in club work in
Kansas City, where she founded the
Woman's City Club. She was also
director of the Social Hygiene So
clety of her city-"in the days be-
fore DR.. Parran worked so actively
to give public information on social
hygiene" she pointed out.
She has long been an ardent be-
lever in woman's rights.
Children Objected.
Both my husband and father
were for suffrage" she said, but
my children sometimes objected to
my public efforts. They were the
only members of my family who op-
posed my work for suffrage" she
laughed. Even my grandmother,
years ago in New York, believed in
woman's rights"
Mrs. Swoffords public work was
not restricted to politics, as she was
an active supporter of the Kansas
City Visiting Nurse Society, the
Parent-Teachers' Association and
city hospital work.
The mother of two sons and
daughter. she says that of all the
"jobs" she has filled, her happiest
work has been the "bringing-up" of
her three children.
Though a lover OF home life, she
modestly disclaims any particular
talents. She admits she likes to
mess about the kitchen" and is
interested in cooking, but says she
would not like to have to cook as
matter of necessity.
She Is a strong believer in we'll
planned, properly balanced meals
for children. and remarked: ANY
one who keeps house should see
that hot meals are served regularly
at proper hours" She also believes
that one of the secrets of keeping
children happy and contented in
their own homes is permitting them
to have their friends in for meals
or during recreation hours, whenever
they desire.
Passes on Injury Claims.
In her present position, Mrs. Swof-
ford has the responsibility of passing
on most of the compensation claims
placed for physical injury or illness
by Government employees. In addi-
ton to Government employees, the
agency covers longshoremen and
harbor workers who receive injuries
aboard ships tied up at docks and
are thus out of the jurisdiction of
State compensation laws. All en-