Evening star., 1940-02-03
Patriotic Conference
Votes Drive Against
Student Union
Women's Organization
Coils for Strengthening
Of Armed Forces

IA
American Student Union as a
Communist Front" has been au-
thorized by the Women's Patriotic
Conference on National Defense.
This was ordered at the closing
session of three-day gathering at
the Mayf1ower Hotel, when reso-
luton unanimously was adopted
strongly condemning the union, and
planning protests to educational au-
thorities throughout the country.
The conference, comprising more
than 80 organizations, represented
by more than 800 delegates, also
strongly supported the Dies Com
mittee. 1t recommended that all
immigration should be stopped for
10 years cor until such time as labor
statistics show unemployment has
reached a normal level"
The conference vigorously pro-
tested the proposed Murray bill,
known as the American Youth Act,
which was said to be designed to
spend s5OO0OO,OO0 annually for edu-
cational opportunities for youth, re-
gardless of sex, race, color, religious
or political opinion or afflliation,
and also regardless of previous con-
viction for crime.
Opposes Emergency" Authorization.
Another measure opposed by the
conference was Senate bill author
izing the President to declare
state of emergency. Already re-
ported out by the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, it was objected
to as American" and because it
would expedite centralized control
Of all private property"
On the other hand the conference,
pointing to the war in Europe as
threatening peace of the entire
world, called on the American people
to take steps to prevent profiteering
''There is great need of Federal leg
islation, said the conference, (which
would carry into effect the principle
of universal service which would
abolish profteering and equalize
the burden of war"
The conference approved citizens
military training camps and opposed
proposed saving of $500, 700 for this
purpose. Voluntary military train
ing should be made available to
enrollees in Civilian Conservation
Corps camps, said the conference.
Ask Stronger Armed Forces.
Taking a stand generally approv-
ing stronger national defense, by
increasing the efficiency" of all the
armed forces, the conference ap-
proved estimates for the Army, rec
commended Is per cent increase in
building for the Navy and adequate
personnel of the Navy. Naval bases
for both air and surface ships, the
women urged, should be rushed to
a full stage of completion and efti-
ciency."
The conference opposed any
change in the present constitutional
method of declaring war by act Of
Congress. 1t urged that 'all inter-
national trade treaties be ratified
by the Senate according to consti-
tutional procedure
It was recommended that Gov
ernment jobs be limited to citizens,
leaving out aliens, and that "Ameri-
can citizens should be given prior
rights to Government relief"
Harry Bridges should not be
granted citizenship, the conference
said.
A proposed Federal education bill
was opposed, because it threatened
bureaucratic control and regimen
tation of all educational depart
ments of the several States" Edu-
cation should be locally controlled,
they said.
Would Outlaw Alien Camps.
Conduct of alien camps, in which
the Dies Committee had disclosed
shocking facts of foreign propa-
ganda" should be made a crime by
new legislation, the conference de-
clared.
Closing up its business affairs, the
conference selected the American
Legion Auxiliary as the organiza-
ton which should have the chair
. man for the 18th Women's Patriotic
Conference in Washington late. in
January, 1941. Mrs. William Cor
with of Rockville Center. N. Y, ma
tional president of the American
Legion Auxiliary, was first vice
president of the conference this
year.
The first vice chairman of the
conference next year will be pro-
vided by the United Spanish War
Veterans Auxiliary, the second vice
president by the Womens Relief
Corps, the third vice president by
the Gold Star Mothers, the fourth
vice president by the American War
Mothers and the fifth vice president
by the Auxiliary to the Veterans OF
Foreign Wars.
Mrs. David D. Good of Phila-
delphia, president general of the
Danes of the Loyal Legion, was re-
elected secretary of the conference,
and Mrs. Carroll Mcclure of this
city of the National Yeomen (F),
was reelected treasurer.
Mrs. Lowell Fletcher Hobart of
Cincinnati, Ohio, who is president
general of the New England Women,
presided over the conference as
chairman this year, and will re-
main for a while to conclude final
business details.