Evening star., 1941-05-20
General Federation
To Have Baltimorean
As Next President
Mrs. John L. Whitehurst
Unopposed; Victory Seen
For D. c. Representation
BY FRANCES LIDE,

ATLANTIC CITY, N. j.. May 90
A Baltimore woman, Mrs. John L.
WhitehurSt. today was assured cleo
ton as the next president of the
General Federation of Women S
Clubs. which is meeting here in its
golden Jubilee convention.
Now first vice president and golden
Jubilee chairman. Mrs. Whitehurst
vas unopposed for the top position
as nominations closed this morning
Elections will be held Thursday.
A Virginia woman, Mrs. J. L. Blair
Buck of Richmond. is a candidate
fer second vice president in the
only contest. Others in that race
are Mrs. R. I. C. Prout of Wakefield
Mich. and Mrs. Horace B. Ritchie
of Athens, Ga.
Assured of election also are Mrs.
La Fell Dickinson of Keene, N. H.,
as first vice president; Mrs. A. L.
Blackstone of Waukesha, Wis, for
recording secretary, and Mrs. Row.
land H Latham. ASheville, N. c.,
for treasurer.
Education Likely to Be Stressed.
AS head of an organization en-
rolling 100000 wonien in $4,000
clubs, Mrs. WhitehurSt is expected
to stress education during her ad-
mlniStratiOn. She is a former chair
man of the department of education,
and is the only women ever ap-
pointed to the Board of Regents
Of the University of Maryland.
The retiring president, Mrs. Saddle
Orr Dunbar, in her report review
ing accomplishments of the organi-
zation, warned that unmet needs
calling for immediate consideration
will demand personal sacrifice.
we will not call it sacrifice. how
ever. if we can look forward to-
world founded upon the four essen
tial human freedoms as set forth
by President Roosevelt" she said
She quoted these as freedom of
speech and expression, freedom of
every person to worship God in his
own way, freedom from war and
freedom from fear.
Mrs. Dunbar declared the women,
et the close of so years as an Or
ganization, stand challenged as
never before to do some very
straight thinking about America s
position in a War-torn world and
about our national defense program,
which she said must be regarded
as our assurance of peace.
Community service work may be
regarded as an essential civilian
defense program. she said.
Anticipating that women may eX-
rect frequent calls for volunteer
services, Mrs. Dunbar expressed the
hope that member clubs would keep
their Clubhouses open all summer.
Human needs and disOrganizlng
forces will not be on vacation, she
said.
Representations Victory Seen.
That there is nothing to indicate
serious opposition" to the proposed
resolution on national representa-
ticn for the District was the belief
Of at least one important committee
chairman of the Federation.
Mrs. Harry w. Smith of Durham.
n. H. resolutions chairman. de-
clared she had learned of little oppo-
sition to the measure since the pro-
posal was placed on the conventions
agenda. Mrs. Smith explained, how
ever. that her correspondence had
been principally with federated
clubs not planning to send delega-
tion5 to the convention.
Rumors that an influential leader
in the organization is opposed to the
resolution spurred members of the
District delegation to intensity ef-
forts in its behalf today. None OF the
women would be quoted in opposl-
ton. The resolution will be brought
before the convention the latter part
of the week, probably Thursday.
The resolution asks Endorsement
of the principle involved in the pro-
posed constitutional amendment
empowering Congress to grant ma
tional representation to District
residents
Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley. leading
proponent in the District delegation,
said she had discovered some oppo-
sition based on confusion of the is
sues Of local suffrage in the District
and national representation.
Although there has been an un-
dertone of concern over the inter-
national situation in the convention,
with hints Of emergency resolutions
TO be drafted, the women we're in
party mood last night as they hon.