Evening star., 1943-08-26
Women Leaders
Views Clash on
Amendment

Described on one hand as "un-
necessary and inappropriate" the
equal rights amendment also was
termed the unfinished business of
the women of the United States" in
respective statements issued today
by leaders of two national women's
organizations.
Both statements. expressing op-
posite points of view, were
prompted by today's observance of
the 23rd anniversary of women's
suffrage
Miss Marguerite M. Wells, presi-
dent of the National League of
Women Voters, made the attack
on the pending amendment, calling
1t frivolous demand" upon the
attention of Congress concerned
with the fate of this country and
the world.
Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the
National Woman's Party, which has
been a leader in the campaign for
equal rights" called on women
to speed the day" when the
amendment will become a part of
the Constitution and predicted that
victory already is in sight.
Miss Wells described enfranchise-
ment of the women of the United
States % years ago today as "the
greatest single addition to a demo-
cratic electorate ever made"
What then" she asked, "is this
Rip Van Wrinkle equal rights
amendment Congress now proposes
to refer to the States for ratifica-
ton?
"It can add nothing to the op-
portunity of equal citizenship given
women in the 10Th amendment to
the Constitution" she contended.
Its introduction in Congress makes
an unnecessary and frivolous de-
mand upon the attention of mem
bers of Congress at a time when
the fate of our country and the
world demands all their attention.
1t proposes to clutter up the Con-
stitution with an unnecessary de-
claration of doubtful meaning %
years after women have won
equality with the rest Of the
electorate.
ANY gallantry male members of
Congress desire to show women has
no place in the Constitution of the
United States" Miss Wells con-
tinued. ANY recognition women
wish to earn, they may now achieve
through their equal rights as citi-
zens of the United States as pro-
vided in the 10Th amendment to the
Constitution.
"The patriotism with which
American women are now serving
their country is belittled. not hon
ored, by a proposal to toss women a
bouquet in the form of an unneces-
sary and inappropriate amendment
to the Constitution"
AS spokesman for the National
Woman's Party, Miss Paul hailed
the suffrage victory anniversary as
time for women to "rededicate"
themselves to the achievement Of
the goal envisioned by the pioneers
who met at Seneca Falls in 1848 and
bSSolA IiellU WillIll 10 Sblll RUlllR
on for complete equality for women
the world over"
For us in the United States, with
the tool of equal suffrage in our
hands" she said, 'the end of the
long and hard-fought struggle for
equality is already in sight. With
the passage of the equal rights
amendment, equality for women will
become the birthright of future gen.
erations.
Women today" she concluded
"have the privilege and the high
honor of completing the work be-
gun in hope and carried on with un-
faltering faith throughout the years
since 1848. Let us all resolve to
speed the day when the equal rights
amendment, introduced in the pres
ent Congress with the active spon-
sorship of "a Senators and 43 Rep
resentatives, will become a part Of
the National Constitution, side by
side with the suffrage amendment"