Evening star., 1939-01-08
Mrs. Roosevelt Talks
Al Women's 'sFirst
Jackson Day Tea
Address Is Broadcast;
1000 Attend 81
Admission Event

QlOIlcT at tIlc MdyAAOWCI 11VoCA 4oSe
night, the jackson Day tea given
yesterday afternoon by the Demo-
cratic women Of Washington at 81
per admission did its share toward
filling the Golfers OF the Democratic
party.
More than 1000 women thronged
the west ballroom of the Shore
ham Hotel for the affair-the first
Democratic women have given as
q companion entertainment to the
highly publicized dinner for the
men.
The arrival of Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt, the principal guest Of
honor, provided the high point of
interest for the afternoon. The
Presidents wife broadcast over a
Nation wide hookup a message to
be received at similar teas and
card parties held at the same hour
by women in Is States under aus
pices of the womens division of
the Democratic National Com
mittee.
Cabinet Wives Attend.
For the Washington party, how
ever, the cabinet wives in the re-
ceiving line and the presence of
virtually all of the Democratic
women in official circles here pro-
Nded additional glamour.
While the guests enjoyed tea
served from long table, an or
chestra played and several Spanish
dances were presented by La Tri-
anita, who danced after the diplo-
matte dinner at the White House
Tuesday.
The Presidents wife arrived few
minutes late for the broadcast and
took over the microphone after the
Secretary of Labor, Miss Frances
Perkins, had filled in as pinch
hitter" with a few words of well
come.
Mrs. Roosevelt's talk was a plea
for a democracy that meets the
needs Of the people" as we'll as
message of praise and encourage
ment to Democratic women who are
working in the interest of their
party.
1--WE believe, as we have never
believed before, I think, in the as
pirations that lie back of the Dem-
ocratic party" the Presidents wife
declared. Eve naturally know that
those objectives are worked for by
human beings, that human beings
are fallible, that frequently there
will be mistakes.
Only Cause Of Anxiety.
But as we look around the
world today we know that we want
to make democracy meet the needs
of the people as whole in this
country. That's the only thing that
gives us any anxiety. We are not
afraid of anything else. We are
not afraid of what any other coun-
try may do. The only thing that
we have to think about is whether
we can make our democracy meet
the needs of the people.
1.-The only way to do that" she
added, 'is for each and every one
of us to participate in our Govern
ment through the party that we
have decided will meet those needs
best"
Praising the reporter plan" of
the womens division-an educa-
tional program-Mrs. Roosevelt ex-
pressed the opinion that the field
of education is the particular field
of political work for women.
II have always felt that the weak
ness Of all political organization lay
in the fact that we organized for a
brief period and did not feel that
the things we believe in are things
we should work for every day in the
year." she said.
Study of the facts, she continued
would do much to prevent the public
from being misled by what the un-
informed may say.
Forums Are Urged.
Advocating reporter plans" in
every county, Mrs. Roosevelt also
urged the organization of forums
places where people can come and
discuss the things that are happen
ing in their locality, in the State
and in the Nation"
Such forums, she pointed out,
would provide the opportunity for
argument and the presentation of
different points of view.
Women have not yet learned to
enter the rough and tumble of polit-
ical life and enjoy it, nor have they
learned to back each other, Mrs.
Roosevelt declared, but she pre-
dicted that the yare going to do 1t
more and more as they come to
realization that women have point
of view in political life.
The trend of government in the
last few years seems to show that
women have a point of view, she
said. Women are interested in the
human side of government" she as
serted, "and their point of view is
contribution which should be made"
Mrs. Roosevelt was introduced by
Mrs. Thomas F. McAllister, direc-
tor of the women's division of the
Democratic National Committee.
Mrs. Ocie brennan Heady, vice
president of the Young Democrats
OF America and chairman in charge
Of the tea, stood in the receiving
line with the guests of honor, while
Mrs. Henry Grady, vice chairman
Of the Democratic National Commit
tee, who was chairman of the Re-
ception Committee, mingled with the
guests.
The II Democratic clubs which
co-operated in presenting the tea
included the Womens Democratic
National Council and the Women's
National Democratic Club.