Evening star., 1939-01-19
Legislation Chairman
Lists 0bjectives
OF Federation
Value Of Concerted
Efforts Stressed by
Mrs. Ketterer

MIS-. NeCteIeT
Women have learned through Or
ganization the value of concerted
action in legislative matters, Mrs.
Gustav Ketterer of Philadelphia,
chairman Of legislation for the Gen.
eral Federation of Womens Clubs,
told a meeting of the federation's s
Board of Directors today,
The program outlined by the leg
islation chairman is backed by
the 2,0O0,0OO women who comprise
the general federation.
More than $50 women, number
ing national officials, State presi-
dents, directors, trustees and de-
partment, division and committee
chairmen, were present at the Sec
ond day meetings of the three-day
conference at which they are for
mulating their program for the
next three years. Mrs. Roosevelt was
the speaker at yesterdays evening
session at the Mayflower Hotel.
Appealing to clubwomen to use
their powers in helping to solve
some Of the vexing problems before
the country today, Mrs. Roosevelt
pointed out some of the RESPONSE
bilities toward democracy.
Each Has Responsibility.
TN a democracy" she said, every
one has a part of the responsibility
and it is essential that every one
carry their own responsibility. AS
clubwomen organized, they have
more power and can carry more
weight. therefore you have more re-
sponsibility.
There are many who would live
and die for democracy, but there
are many of those who have verv
little idea what the essentials of
democracy are. I think that the
essentials are, first, minimum basic
security for our people, that they
may have food,- and shelter and
warmth, and secondly, sufficient
education for all"
Mrs. Roosevelt declared there was
great need of educational reform
IN the country-that present. day
methods did not properly equip
youth for life.
I'VE have not kept up our edu-
cation and training of our young
people with the changing times"
she said.
Mrs. Ketterer, who has Just re-
celved a meritorious service medal
from the State of Pennsylvania for
her "unceasing work for public bet
terment and civic Improvement" ;"
said the federation is on record in
support OF the sanctity of treaty
obligations and of discrimination
against offenders The federation
also supports the principles of the
Hull reciprocal trade treaties, she
added.
Curb on Invaders Favored.
The federation, she said, advo-
Gated employing economic meas
ures" against the invader to the ex-
tent OF an embargo on munitions of
war or other material. except food
| stuffs, that may be used directly or
indirectly in the prosecution of war
Uniform action on tax revision to
obviate the pyramiding of debt
services and correct the system of
hidden taxes will follow an intensive
study of the tax question now be-
ing made by the State federations,
she reported.
The federation. she said. is also
committed to uniform State mar
cotic legislation, including the con-
troll of marihuana traffic, legislation
to conquer syphilis, uniform mar
riage and divorce laws, complete
uniformity of vehicle and traffic
laws in all States. legislation
strengthening the control of fire.
arms and more informative label
ling on consumer goods.
This seems like an ambitious
program she said, "but there is a
rapidly growing interest in and
sense of responsibility toward leg
islative matters on the part of wom-
en-. Women have more time to study
these important national and in
| ternational matters than ever be-
fore. They have learned through
organization the value of concert
ed action, and also find the male
members Of the family are often
strongly influenced by the find
ings and opinions of the women of
the household"
Treasure Hunt" Described.
- al 4
plays. folk tales and folk music
which have never been recorded was
described by Mrs. Carl L. Schrader
OF Boston, chairman of the Depart
ment Of Fine Arts.
1T is only through the history of
the arts she declared, that one
may sense cause and effect from
one generation to another"
Interest in the Penny Art Fund of
the federation is rapidly spreading
throughout the State, she said, add
ing that each State is becoming
more art-conscious.
Other speakers at the morning
session were committee chairmen
and Mrs. William Brown Meloney,
editor OF This Week. The chair
men included Mrs. E. w. Hale,
membership; Mrs. Almeron w.
Smith, federation extension; Mrs.
w. w. Husband, headquarters and
house; Mrs. Tom B. Davis, revision; :;
Mrs. Minnie Fisher Cunningham,
urban rural cooperation; DR.. Clara
B. Burdette, historical and contin-
uation, and Mrs. H. E. Kjorlie, con-
servation of natural resources.
After free afternoon, the women
will convene at the Mayfower Hotel
tonight to hear recital by the
Chevy Chase Woman's Club Chorus
and the report of Mrs. Wiley Nor
gan, chairman of the Education De-
partment. Federal Aid for Educa-
ton" will be the subject discussed
by DR.. Howard A. Dawson, director
of rural service of the National Edu-