Evening star., 1939-01-21
Women's Club ParIey
Indorses Flexible
Foreign Policy
Administration of
Legislation Is Chief
Concern of Session

Concern of Session
Flexibility of administration, par
ticularly in regard to foreign affairs,
was supported by the Board of Di-
rectors of the General Federation
Of Womens Clubs, closing its three
day conference last night.
In a resolution recommending to
Its members that proposed legis-
lative measures be examined with
"flexibility of administration as
Sured by the Constitution" in view,
opposed any legislation calculated
to weaken or destroy this flexibility"
An emergency resolution indors-
ing the national health program
was passed after an address by DR..
Thomas Parran, surgeon general of
the United States, at the symposium
on public welfare which occupied
the final session of the conference.
The resolution also urged favor
able consideration by Congress of
legislation on four provisions in
cluding extension of public health,
maternal and child health services:
expansion of hospital, clinic and
other institutional facilities; provi-
sion of medical services for needy
persons and development of general
programs of medical care by indi-
vidual States according to their re-
spective needs.
No Basic Changes. Says Parran.
Mrs. Sadie Orr Dunbar, president
OF the federation, explained the reso-
luton will be appended to the call
for the council meeting next May in
San Francisco, to give the States an
opportunity for referendum.
DR.. Parran said the national
hpalth program is not designed to
federalize the practice of medicine,
but to socialize some of the costs.
He added it would bring about no
basic changes in the traditional
methods of practicing medicine.
Recognizing the international
scope of problems precipitated by
the enforced migration of masses of
people from Central Europe the
board passed resolution urging the
member clubs ito accept responsible
ity for helping to create public opin-
ion in their communities that will
prevent the growth of intolerance,
injustice or religious discrimination
in our own country" The resolution
also favored the participation of this
Government in the Intergovern-
mental Committee on Political Ref
ugees.
Milwaukee Picked for 40.
The board voted to hold the 1910
council meeting of the federation
in Milwaukee, Wis. and the 1941
jubilee convention in Atlantic City,
N. J. Washington an alternate for
the 1910 meeting. was turned down.
Speakers on the public welfare
symposium included DR.. Martha M.
Eliot. assistant chief of the Chill
drens Bureau, who said that the
only effective maternal and child
health program would be one placed
in the health program of the entire
country; DR.. Beatrice Mcconnell.
director of the industrial division of
the Children's Bureau, and Mrs
Elwood Street, chairman of the
National Council of Mothers and
Babies.
Mrs. Edward Bevens, chairman OF
the Department of Public Welfare
in the federation. who presided at
the symposium, said her department
program would stress child welfare,
with special attention to the needs
of mothers and infants in the re-
duction of maternal and infant NOR
tality, the problems of the under
privileged child and the problems
involved in the child labor question
Programs Presented.
Mrs Fred r. Lufkin. chairman Of
the press and publicity department,
and Mrs. David S. Long, chairman
of the department for junior club
women. presented their programs at
the afternoon session.
Mrs. Long voiced her opposition to
subjunior departments, basing it on
the statement that children today
are overorganized. She cited school,
Sunday school and national chill
dren's groups as examples of the
superorganiZation of youngsters. She
also opposed any program for club
women which would, because of the
need for constant activity, increase
the tension in their home lives.
Officers of the Presidents Coun-
ell elected at the meeting include
Mrs. j. Ralston Wells of Florida,
president; Mrs. w. T. Bruckner of
Illinois, vice president, and Mrs Jo-
seph M. Perkins of Texas, secretary
treasurer.
New Officers of the Council of
State Directors include Mrs. R. F..
Steinmetz of North Dakota, presi-
dent; Mrs. r. w. Goddard of New
Mexico, vice president, and Mrs.
Frederick H. Desere of Rhode Island,
secretary traa S,1ror