Evening star., 1947-01-14

. n n, WdSflltlStUI1 -. ".
JANUARY "a. is1.
Woman S Party Split,
Issue Over Quarters
May Start Legal Fight
A legal battle appeared in the
making today as the result of split
in the National Woman's Party
which already has been attended
by one reported incident involving
police Intervention.
/ Reported scene OF the police
/ episode was the party's national
4 headquarters. known as Belmont
4 House IA B street NV, and the
time early last Sunday.
Aligned on one side In the con-
| troversy are officers of the party
who were elected either in the last
regular convention in 1942, or by
mail convention" in 1945.. Heading
this group is Miss Anita Pollitzer,
chairman, of South Carolina, who
in private life is Mrs. E. G. Edison.
Each Group Claims Leadership.
Comprising the other group
lf-styled > the Constitutional
group-are members who met in
what they termed party conven-
tion" late last week in the May
flower Hotel here, elected officers
and transacted other business.
Heading this group is Mrs. John
L. Whitehurst of. Baltimore, past
national president of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
Mrs. Whitehurst told The Star
today, ~ however, that she has not
been involved in the dispute and did
not attend the Mayaower meeting,
but agreed to accept the chairman
ship of that group "in the hope I
might be the means of bringing
about reconciliation In this fine
old organization, the National
Woman's Party"
No Progress on Meeting.
She has agreed, she said, to preside
as disinterested chairman II a
joint meeting can be arranged OF
representatives of the controversial
groups.
"If any progress has been made
toward arranging such meeting I
have not been advised" she added.
Each group insisted today, I'VE
are the National Woman's Party
However, control of the national
headquarters building, party records
and finances was held today by the
regular party organization, as con-
trasted with the group which met
at the Mayfower.
Charge Invasion of Headquarters.
But spokesmen for the regular
group said they lost physical con-
troll of the building for few hours
late Saturday night.
Their version of the incident was
that members of the Mayfiower
meeting factions, estimated to have
numbered about 20 persons, forced
their way into headquarters, despite
the presence of a private detective
who had been employed as guard.
These spokesmen said the intrud-
ers broke down door, wrecked a
wall panel and held control of the
building until early Sunday morning,
when they were persuaded" to leave
by police called by the guarding de-
tective.
Police records showed that at
1900 am. Sunday, officers were
instructed to "see the house detec-
tive at IA B street NE He has a
complaint"
Those named as having taken
part In the Mayfower meeting
would not comment on the reported
Belmont House incident. They like
wise were silent concerning all other
proceedings of their meeting, ex-
planning they had agreed among
themselves not to comment.
May Sue for Property.
The indications were today that if
a court fight should develop, it will
result from the efforts of the May
flower group to gain control OF the
party's property, records and
finances.
Meanwhile, Miss Pollitzer an
nounced that the National Council
of the party met at headquarters
while the Mayf1ower session was in
progress, and reafirmed next April
IL and 10 as the dates for the ma
tional party convention, to be held
in Chicago.
The council also refused to recog-
nize the Mayfower meeting and its
participants as representing the
party, she said. An official party
statement referred to the Mayf1ower
session as an unauthorized con-
vention" by "a small dissident group
which is attempting to unseat the
present officials and seize control of
the party"
Delay in Convention Blamed.
While the whole situation was
extremely confused and despite the
refusal of the rebelling group to
comment on their actions and aims,
authoritative sources charged that
present officers of the party have
been attempting to "entrench them
selves in power" by delaying the re-
sumption of national conventions
which were suspended during the
war
1--WE think the war has been over
long enough to hold a convention, /"
one spokesman commented with a
don't quote me" admonition.
However. information from nu-
merous sources indicated the con-
troversy has been developing several
months.
Other Causes of Dissatisfaction.
Causes of dissatisfaction were said
to be both the delay in holding a
convention and a disagreement over