Evening star., 1940-05-22
Political Role
0 Women
discussed
Press Club Hears
Dorothy McAllister
And Marion Martin

4he donkey and the elephant were
reFesented by friendly enemies'
athe Women's National Press Club
luncheon yesterday when Dorothy
McAlhster, head Of the women's d.
vifton Of the National Democratic
Committee, and Marion Martin,
head Of the women's division Of the
National Republican Committee, dis
cussed the parts women will play
In the coming conventions.
Mrs. McAllister predicted q strong
influence would be welded by
women in the coming campaign
when States would send q woman
delegate for every man and when
women, through well-informed rep
resentatives, would place before the
voters Q brief, well-claritied analysis
of accomplishments Of the Demo-
cratic party. Through education
women have become strong and In
telligent workers for the party, she
continued.
s"If the women are informed" said
Mrs. McAllister. "they can tell others
what the Government is doing"
Women Conduct Surveys.
Women Democrats have been con-
Quoting surveys Of Government &C.
complishments, she pointed out, and
carrying such information into their
counties.
Women have learned to do what
Mrs. Roosevelt advised" she said.
'They have learned to study the
needs of their own communities first.
They learn how the Federal agencies
have been operating so that they
can report back the results to the
Government"
They inform their communities
what the Government has done by
distributing rainbow streamers"
containing brief, concise .informa-
ton on Government achievements
with practical explanation OF Gov
ernment policies, Mrs. McAllister
added.
The information which women
have acquired through research
study and surveys has changed
their attitude towards politics" con-
tinued the committeewoman, "and
also has changed the attitude Of
politicians towards women"
Met "Via Telephone"
Mrs, McAlliSter, who paid friendly
tribute to Miss Martin at the begin
ming Of her address, explaining they
had already met via telephone"
through mutual interests in q con-
ference to be called by Carrie Chap
man Gait next fall, concluded her
remarks with:
"The Republicans have arguments
on their side as we have, but there
is one thing we have that they do
not-President and Mrs. Roosevelt" I"
Miss Martin agreed with Mrs. Nc
Allister that the part to be played
by women in the political campaigns
for both parties would be greater
than In the history Of the country.
Declaring there was need for more
women in political office In the Gov
ernment, Miss Martin said women
realized that only tn partisan service
could they secure ofIlce and, there
fore, were determined to begin at
the bottom"
Women are now realizing that
before they can solve national at
fairs they must solve local ones"
she continued. "They must be able
to compete with men and be q little
better when they serve In ONCE"
In reply to question Miss Martin
said the difference between Demo-
Gratis and Republicans was that "the
Republicans believe in a Govern
ment Of laws, whereas the Demo-
Gratis believe in q Government of
men"
In addition to the committee
women Mrs. May Thompson Evans,
assistant director of the womens
division of the Democratic National
Committee and Mrs. Paul Henry,
assistant director OF the women's
division of the Republican National
Committee, were guests of honor.
Ruby Black, club president, pre-
sided and introduced the speakers.