Evening star., 1953-05-24
General Federation
Of Women 10 Meet
Here Tomorrow


Clubwomen from all parts Of
the Nation and a number of
foreign countries will begin reg
istering today for the 62d an
nual convention Of the General
Federation Of Women'S Clubs
which formally opens here to-
morrow night.
An attendance Of approx
mately 5000 is expected for the
f1ve-day session-the first ever
held in Washington by the inter-
national organization.
Mrs. Eisenhower to Attend.
Mrs. Eisenhower repeatedly is
planning to attend a session
some time this week although
she will not be able, because of
previous commitments, to re-
ceive the delegates at the White
House.
Constitution Hall will be the
setting of the official conven-
ton programs but registration
will take place at the Hotel Stat
Ter. where the Credentials Com
mittee will have headquarters.
The delegates will represent
approximately $4,000 American
clubwomen with direct member
ship in the federation, as well as
several million who are in groups
affiliated with it. In addition,
foreign delegates are expected
from II of the ~ countries in
which the federation has a total
associate membership of more
than five million.
U. S. Heritage to Be Theme.
The Preservation of Our
American Heritage" will be the
convention theme. This is in
keeping with the Crusade for
Americanism" launched by the
federation president. Mrs. Oscar
A. Ahlgren of Whiting, Ind,
when she took Office last May.
Mrs. Ahlgren was elected for a
two-year term and her successor
will not be chosen until next year.
Washington officials will have
q prominent place on the con-
vention program.
Vice President Nixon will ex-
tend greetings at the opening
session tomorrow night and a
message will be read from Presi-
dent Eisenhower.
Speakers at later sessions will
include Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby,
Secretary of the new Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare: Mrs. Ivy Baker Priest,
Treasurer of the United States;
Mrs. Hiram Cole Houghton, As
sitant Director for Mutual Sc
curity, who is the immediate
past president of the General
Federation; Senator Cooper, Re-
publican. Of Kentucky; Senator
Ellender, Democrat, Of Louisi-
ana; and Judge Luther w.
Youngdahl Of the United States
District Court for the District.
Mary PickfOrd to Speak.
Ambassador James j. Wads-
worth, the deputy United States
Representative to the United
Nations, will make a major adj
dress on Thursday evening, fol-
lowing a day highlighting the
former clubs. He will speak in
the place of former Philippine
Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo,
who recently resigned his diplo-
matte post to run for the Philip
pine presidency.
Cedric Foster, news commen-
tator, will replace Senator Dirk
sen, Republican, of Illinois,
originally scheduled as the final
speaker Friday night.
Mary Pickford, in her current
role as salesman of United States
Defense Bonds, and Eric john
ston, president of the Motion Pic
ture Association of America, are
others who will address the dele
gates. Mr.. Johnston will appear
at a luncheon Friday at which
awards will be made to outstand-
ing motion pictures.
Business of the convention will
Include action on a series of res
olutions which already have been
circulated among the member
clubs, with the possibility that
emergency resolutions will be
added to the agenda.
Resolution Topics.
Those already scheduled for
action concern the immigration
and Naturalization Act of. 1852:
g Constitutional amendment on
ratification Of treaties; preferen-
tial presidential primaries,
women in policy-making posts,
television in education, locating
abscondlng parents, Indian af-
fairs. factory inspection under
the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics
Act. and civil defense.
The federation's opening night
is traditionally devoted to
special entertainment program
and tomorrow evening the high
light of the program will be a
concert and broadcast by the
Cities Service Band of America
conducted by Paul Lavalle.
After adjournment of the ses-
sion. Mrs. Ahlgren will be hon
ored by the District Federation
at a reception for the delegates
at Wardman Park Hotel.
Members of the General Fed