History of Woman Suffrage/Volume 5/Chapter 22

 

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMAN VOTERS.^[1]

The League of Women Voters was first mentioned at the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in Washington, D. C., Dec. 12-15, 1917, when its president, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, outlined a plan to unite the women of the equal suffrage States. She suggested organization committees of five women in each, these committees to be united in a central body known as the National League of Women Voters. Upon the enfranchisement of its women each State would automatically join the organization, which would provide a way to retain suffrage associations for work on the Federal Amendment and various reforms. It was voted that a committee be appointed to undertake such a plan of organization. [Handbook of convention, page 48.]

The League of Women Voters was organized at the national convention in St. Louis March 24-29, 1919, in commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the first grant of suffrage on equal terms with men in the world (in Wyoming) and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the organization of the first National Woman Suffrage Association. Women were eligible at this time to vote for President in twenty-eight States. The submission of the Federal Woman Suffrage Amendment was promised by the Sixtysixth Congress and early ratification was assured, so that the object for which the association had labored through half a century of arduous sacrifice and toil was nearly attained. The natural question, therefore, was, Should the association make plans to dissolve immediately upon ratification or was there reason for continuance?

On the opening night of the convention Mrs. Catt answered 684 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE this question and gave the purpose and aims of the new organ- ization in her address The Nation Calls. She said in part : Every suffragist will hope for a memorial dedicated to the mem- ory of our brave departed leaders, to the sacrifices they made for our cause, to the scores of victories won. ... I venture to propose one whose benefits will bless our entire nation and bring happiness to the humblest of our citizens the most natural, the most appro- priate and the most patriotic memorial that could be suggested a League of Women Voters to "finish the fight" and to aid in the reconstruction of the nation. What could be more natural than that women having attained their political independence should desire to give service in token of their gratitude? What could be more appropriate than that such women should do for the coming generation what those of a preceding did for them? What could be more patriotic than that these women should use their new free- dom to make the country safer for their children and their chil- dren's children ? Let us then raise up a League of Women Voters, the name and form of organization to be determined by the members themselves; a league that shall be non-partisan and non-sectarian and consecrated to three chief aims: I. To use its influence to obtain the full en- franchisement of the women of every State in our own republic and to reach out across the seas in aid of the woman's struggle for her own in every land. 2. To remove the remaining legal discrim- inations against women in the codes and constitutions of the sev- eral States in order that the feet of coming women may find these stumbling blocks removed. 3. To make our democracy so safe for the nation and so safe for the world that every citizen may feel se- cure and great men will acknowledge the worthiness of the American republic to lead. The following ten points covered by Mrs. Catt in her address were adopted later as the first aims of the League of Vomen Voters and made the plan of work for the Committee on Ameri- can Citizenship: i. Compulsory education in every State for all children between six and sixteen during nine months of each year. 2. Education of adults by extension classes of the public schools. 3. English made the national language by having it compulsory in all public and private schools where courses in general education are conducted. 4. Higher qualifications for citizenship and more sympathetic and impressive ceremonials for naturalization. 5. Direct citizenship for women, not through marriage, as a qualification for the vote. 6. Naturalization for married women to be made possible. 7. Compulsory publicaTHE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 685 tion in foreign language newspapers of lessons in citizenship. 8. Schools of citizenship in conjunction with the public schools, a certificate from such schools to be a qualification for naturaliza- tion and for the vote. 9. An oath of allegiance to the United States to be one qualification for the vote for every citizen native and foreign born. 10. An educational qualification for the vote in all States after a definite date to be determined. With Mrs. Catt in the chair and Miss Katharine Pierce of Oklahoma secretary, after full discussion the League of Women Voters was launched to replace the National American Woman Suffrage Association when the work for which the latter was organized was fully accomplished. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, honorary president of the association, expressed herself as "whole- heartedly in favor of the proposed action." [Handbook of con- vention, page 43.] Mrs. Charles H. Brooks of Kansas was elected national chairman. The recommendations of the sub-committees on organization plans, Mrs. Raymond Brown (N. Y.) chair- man, were adopted as follows: i. The Council of the League of Women Voters will consist of the presidents of the States having full, Presidential or Primary suffrage and the chairmen of the Ratification Committees in the seven States of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming this Council to pass upon all policies of the league and approve the legislative programs. 2. The permanent chairman, who will also be chairman of the legislative committee, will conduct cor- respondence, direct organization in unorganized States and visit States with the view of stimulating organization and clarifying the objects of the league, the work for suffrage to remain in the National Congressional Committee and the State Ratifica- tion Committees. 3. The State Leagues of Women Voters will ist of individual members and organized committees with the addition of associations already established which subscribe to the principles of the league. At the regular State convention or at a special State conference to be called the object of the league will be set forth and each department presented, with publicity and advertising to bring it to the attention of the public. Kight departments each composed of a national chairman and one woman from every State were recommended, the members of 686 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE these departments to become familiar with all laws on the sub- jects under consideration, recommend legislative programs, pre- pare and issue literature on their subjects and work in the States through the State committees. A "budget" of $20,000 was recommended. The program for the Women in Industry Committee presented by Mrs. Raymond Robins (Ills.) was adopted. The greatest needs for Unification and Improvement of Laws defining the Legal Status of Women were named by Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch (Ills.), such as joint guardianship of children, mar- riage and divorce laws, property rights, industry, civil service, morality, child welfare and elections. Education was set forth as the best means to Social Morality and Social Hygiene by Dr. Valeria Parker (Conn.). Miss Julia Lathrop (Washington, D. C), chief of the Federal Child Welfare Bureau, spoke on present needs, saying : "Child labor and an educated community, child labor and modern democracy cannot co-exist. . . . Time does not wait, the child lives or dies. If he lives he takes up his life well or ill equipped, not as he chooses but as we choose for him." The following needed Improvements of Election Laws -were named by Mrs. Ellis Meredith (Colo.) : Federal A national amendment guaranteeing women the franchise on the same terms as men; restricting the franchise to those who are citizens; re- pealing the Act of 1907 which disfranchises women marrying foreigners ; an extension of the present five-year time after which a foreigner becomes a full citizen by virtue of having taken out two sets of papers and giving the oath of allegiance. State Adoption of the Australian ballot; reduction of number of bal- lots printed to not more than 5 per cent, more than registration ; for "military" and "poll tax" substitution of "election tax," to be remitted to persons voting and collected from those failing to do so when not unavoidably prevented by illness ; adoption of absent voter law Montana or Minnesota statutes recommended; dis- continuance of vehicles except for sick or feeble or crippled per- sons; even division of Judges between major political parties, examination required, more latitude in appointment and removal THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 687 for cause ; election of judicial, legislative and educational officers at a different time from that for national and State. Miss Jessie R. Haver, legislative representative of the National Consumers' League and executive secretary of the Consumers' League of the District of Columbia, read a paper on The Gov- ernment and the Market Basket, after which she presented a resolution urging the chairman of the Senate and House Inter- state Commerce Committee to re-introduce and pass the bill drafted by the Federal Trade Commission in reference to the Packers' Trust. During the convention sectional conferences were held on the department subjects. Out of these conferences came many sug- gestions and two resolutions were adopted : i. That the League of Women Voters supports the Federal Trade Commission in its efforts to secure remedial legislation in the meat-packing industry. 2. That the convention endorses the principle of federal aid to the States for the removal of adult illiteracy and the Americanization of the adult foreign born. In June, 1919, the initial conference of the president, Mrs. Brooks, and the committee chairmen of the League of Women Voters, was held at the headquarters of the National Suffrage Association, 171 Madison Avenue, New York City, and plans were made to render the league effective throughout the United States. The record of the action of the Official Board of the National American Woman Suffrage Association in 1919 on questions per- taining to the League of Women Voters is as follows : In April it was voted that the Americanization Committee and the Com- mittee on Protection of Women in Industry of the association be united with the committees of the same name in the league. In May the following chairmen for new committees were selected, subject to endorsement of the Council of the league : Mrs. Edward P. Costigan, Washington, D. C, Food Supply and Demand; Mrs. Jacob Baur (Ills.), Improvement of Election Laws and Methods; Mrs. Percy V. Pennbacker (Tex.), Child Welfare. In July an appropriation of $200 for each of the eight depart- ments of the league was made from the treasury of the association. 688 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE As the National Association was the convener of the first con- gress of the League of Women Voters and there was no method of determining the number of delegates that any league was entitled to, the Board on December 30, in preparation for the approaching annual convention in Chicago, adopted the follow- ing resolution: i. That each State auxiliary of the association be invited to secure for the league congress, which would be held at the same time, one delegate from the State Federation of Women's Clubs, one from the State Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union and one from the State Women's Trade Union League; and ten delegates at large from the national organi- zations of each. 2. That invitations be extended to the following national bodies, asking each to send ten delegates at large : Asso- ciation of Collegiate Alumnae, International Child Welfare League, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Ladies of the Maccabees, National Council of Jewish Women, National Con- gress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers' Associations, Federation of College Women, Florence Crittenden Mission, Women's Relief Corps, Women's Relief Society, Women's Benefit Association of the Maccabees, Women's Department National Civic Federation, United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Young Women's Christian Association. 3. That each of the ten unorganized western States be entitled to ten delegates to be secured by the chairman of ratification. At the convention of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the League of Women Voters in Chicago Feb. 1 2- 1 8, 1920, there were present 507 delegates, 102 alternates and 89 fraternal delegates. Among the resolutions for dissolving the association recommended by its Executive Council and adopted by vote of the delegates was the following pertaining to the League of Women Voters : Citizenship Whereas, millions of women will become voters in 1920, and, Whereas, the low standards of citizenship found in the present electorate clearly indicate the need of education in the principles and ideals of our Government and the methods of political procedure, therefore be it resolved: i. That the Na- tional League of Women Voters be urged to make Political Edu- cation for the new women voters (but not excluding men) its THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 689 first duty for 1920. 2. That the nation-wide plan shall include normal schools for citizenship in each State followed by schools in each county. 3. That we urge the League of Women Voters to make every effort to have the study of citizenship required in the public schools of every State, beginning in the primary grades and continuing through the upper grades, high schools, normal schools, colleges and universities. The recommendations were: i. That the League of Women Voters, now a section of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, be organized as a new and independent society. 2. That the present State auxiliaries of the association, while retain- ing their relationship in form to the Board of Officers to be elected in this convention, shall change their names, objects and constitutions to conform to those of the league and take up the plan of work to be adopted in its first congress. At the opening session of the congress of the League of Women Voters Saturday afternoon, February 14, Mrs. Brooks, the chair- man, presiding, Mrs. Catt was made permanent chairman and Mrs. Halsey W. Wilson recording secretary for the convention. By vote of the convention the chair named the following com- mittees and chairmen : Constitution, Mrs. Raymond Brown (N. Y.) ; Nominations, Mrs. George Gellhorn (Mo.); Regions, Mrs. Andreas Ueland (Wis.). The constitution was adopted defining the aims of the league to foster education in citizenship; to urge every woman to become an enrolled voter, but as an organization the league not to be allied with or support any party. Following are the officers elected for 19201921, the regional division of States and the chairmen of departments : Directors at Large Mrs. Maud Wood Park (Mass.), Mrs. Richard E. Ed- wards (Ind.), Mrs. Pattie Ruffner Jacobs (Ala.). Board as ganized Chairman, Mrs. Park; vice-chairman, Mrs. Gellhorn ; reasurer, Mrs. Edwards; secretary, Mrs. Jacobs. Mrs. Catt was made honorary chairman by the board. Regional Directors First Region: Miss Katharine Ludington (Conn.) Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts Connecticut and Rhode Island. Second: Mrs. F. Louis Slade (N. Y.) New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland ami Delaware. Third: Miss Ella Dortch (Tenn.; Virginia, Dis6gO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE trict of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala- bama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee. Fourth: Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser (O.) Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Ken- tucky, Illinois, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Fifth : Mrs. James Paige (Minn.) Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Sixth: Mrs. George Gellhorn (Mo.) Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. Seventh : Mrs. C. B. Simmons (Ore.) Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Cali- fornia. Chairmen of Departments. i. American Citizenship, Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley, Boston ; 2. Protection of Women in Indus- try, Miss Mary McDowell, Chicago; 3. Child Welfare, Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, Austin (Tex.); Social Hygiene, Dr. Valeria H. Parker, Hartford (Conn.) ; 5. Unification of Laws Concern- ing Civil Status of Women, Mrs. Catharine Waugh McCulloch, Chicago; 6. Improvement in Election Laws and Methods, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, New York; 7. Food Supply and Demand, Mrs. Edward P. Costigan, Washington, D. C. ; 8. Research, Mrs. Mary Sumner Boyd, New York. The recommendations of the Committee on Plans for Citizen- ship Schools, appointed by the National Suffrage Association, Mrs. Nettie Rogers Shuler, chairman, were adopted as follows: i. That a normal school be held in the most available large city in each State, to which every county shall be asked to send one or more representatives, the school to be open to all local people. 2. That no State shall feel that it has approached the task of training for citizenship which has not had at least one school in every county, followed by schools in as many town- ships and wards as possible, with the ultimate aim of reaching the women of every election district. 3. That minimum requirement of a citizenship school should include (a) the study of local, State and national government; (b) the technique of voting and election laws; (c) organization and platform of political parties; (d) the League of Women Voters its aims, its platforms, its plans of work. 4. That each State employ a director for citizen- ship schools to be under the direction of the national director of such schools. 5. That the States urge the assistance of State THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 69 T universities through summer schools, extension departments and active participation by professors from these departments to make the teaching of citizenship of real benefit to the State. 6. That the States invite the cooperation of local men who are experienced in public affairs and that every agency, including that of publicity, be employed which will tend to increased interest in the teaching of citizenship. 7. That the States try to make the study of citizenship compulsory in the public schools from the primary grades up. The following resolutions were adopted: i. That a copy of the legislative program as selected by the Board of Directors shall be submitted to all State presidents and presidents of national women's organizations for approval, and that a deputation from the League of Women Voters be sent to the conventions of two at least of the dominant political parties to present this program to the delegates and to chairmen of the Resolutions Committees if announced in advance, leaders of these parties having been pre- viously interviewed or circularized. 2. That the recommenda- tions of the standing committees as accepted by the convention be referred to the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters; after consultation with the chairmen the Board in turn to pass on its recommendations to the State chairmen with the request that they use as many of them as possible. 3. That reso- lutions relating to Federal legislation, after submission to the National Board, be considered binding; that resolutions affect- ing State legislation be considered recommendations to be sub- mitted to States. 4. That in order to create a better understand- ing of the purposes of the League of Women Voters and its rela- tion to other national organizations of women, the directors of the league make the purposes of the league exceedingly clear to local groups namely, that its function is for the purpose of fostering education in citizenship and of supporting improved legislation; that as far as possible organizations already existing and doing similar work be used and asked to cooperate in the work of educating women to an understanding of these purposes; that a Committee on Congressional Legislation be created with headquarters in Washington and that in addition to a chairman 6Q2 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE the committee be made up of a representative from each of the great national organizations of women. It was moved by Mrs. John L. Pyle (S. D.), seconded by Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton (O.) and carried by the convention that, Whereas, all women citizens of the United States would today be fully enfranchised had not James W. Wadsworth, Jr., mis- represented his State and his party when continuously and re- peatedly voting, working and maneuvering against the pro- posed i Qth Amendment to the Federal Constitution, be it Re- solved, That we, representing the enfranchised women of the country, extend to the women of New York our appreciation and our help in their patriotic work of determining to send to the U. S. Senate to succeed the said James W. Wadsworth, Jr., a modern-minded Senator who will be capable of comprehending the great American principles of freedom and democracy. Before the convention opened there were eight conferences fol- lowed by dinners presided over by the chairmen of the depart- ments. The voting members of each conference were the chairman and forty-eight State members and representatives of other agen- cies doing the same work. The purpose of each conference was to formulate a legislative program combining the best judgment and experience of all workers for the same cause. This program was presented to the convention of the League of Women Voters for its consideration and after adoption it became the platform to which the league was pledged. These conferences were open to visitors without speaking or voting privileges. The program as submitted by the chairmen, approved by the conferences and amended and adopted by the convention was as follows : Women in Industry, Mrs. Raymond Robins ; recommen- dations presented by Miss Grace Abbott (Ills.) : I. We affirm our belief in the right of the workers to bargain collectively through trade unions and we regard the organization of working women as especially important because of the peculiar handicaps from which they suffer in the labor market. II. We call attention to the fact that it is still necessary for us to urge that wages should be paid on the basis of occupation and not on sex. III. We recommend to Congress and the Federal Government: i. The establishment in the U. S. Department of Labor of a THE LEAGUE OF OMKN YOTKRS 693 permanent Women's Bureau with a woman as chief and an ap- propriation adequate for the investigation of all matters pertaining to wage earning women and the determination of standards and policies which will promote their welfare, improve their working conditions and increase their efficiency. 2. The appointment of women in the Mediation and Conciliation Service of the U. S. De- partment of Labor and on any industrial commission or tribunal which may hereafter be created. 3. The establishment of a Joint Federal and State Employment Service with women's departments under the direction of technically qualified women. 4. The adop- tion of a national constitutional amendment giving to Congress the power to establish minimum labor standards and the enactment by Congress of a Child Labor Law extending the application of the present Federal child labor tax laws, raising the age minimum for general employment from 14 to 15 years and the age for employ- ment at night to 18 years. 5. Recognizing the importance of a world-wide standardization of industry we favor the participation of the United States in the International Labor Conference and the appointment of a woman delegate to the next conference. IV. We recommend to the States legislative provision for: I. The limitation of the hours of work for wage earning women in industrial undertakings to not more than 8 hours in any one day or || hours in any one week and the granting of one day's rest in i. 2. The prohibition of night work for women in industrial undertakings. 3. The compulsory payment of a minimum wage to be fixed by a Minimum Wage Commission at an amount which will insure to the working woman a proper standard of health, comfort and efficiency. 4. Adequate appropriations for the en- forcement of labor laws and the appointment of technically qualified women as factory inspectors and as heads of women in industry divisions in the State Factory Inspection Departments. V. We urge upon the Federal Board of Vocational Education and upon State and local Boards of Commissioners of Education the necessity of giving to girls and women full opportunity for edu- cation along industrial lines, and we further recommend the ap- pointment of women familiar with the problems of women in in- dmtry as members and agents of the Federal Board of Vocational Education and of similar State and local Boards. VI. leco[rni/iii that the Federal, State and Local Governments arc the 1; -.iployers of labor in the United Slates, we urge (a) an actual merit system of appointment and promotion based on qualifications for the work to be performed, these qualifications to be determined in open competition, free from special privilr: c of any kind and especially free from discrimination on the ground of sex; (hi n of th deral civil upon tlr ith a v brv scale determined by the skill and training required for the worl ! and r) A minimum wage in Federal. State and local which shall not b- IcSI than tin living as de694 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE termined by official investigations; (d) Provisions for an equitable retirement system for superannuated public employees; (e) En- larging of Federal and State Civil Service Commissions so as to include three groups in which men and women shall be equally rep- resented; namely, representatives of the administrative officials, of the employees and of the general public, and (f) The delegating to such commissions of full power and responsibility for the mainte- nance of an impartial, non-political and efficient administration. VII. Finally this department recommends that the League of Women Voters shall keep in touch with the Women's Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor securing information as to the success or failure of protective legislation in this and other countries, as to standards that are being discussed and adopted and as to the results of investigations that are made. Upon motion of Miss Abbott, duly seconded, it was voted that the following resolutions be adopted : "That the report of the Women in Industry Department of the National League of Women Voters in its entirety be officially transmitted by the sec- retary to the congressional legislative bodies or committees thereof before which legislation on the subject is now pending and to the administrative officials who may have authority to act upon any of its recommendations ; that the article concerning the estab- lishment on a permanent basis of the Women's Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor be telegraphed tonight to Repre- sentative James W. Good and Senator Francis E. Warren, chair- men of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in Congress, and to Senator William S. Kenyon and Representa- tive J. M. C. Smith, chairmen of the Senate and House Com- mittees on Labor before which this legislation is now pending; that the whole of the article concerning the Federal civil service be telegraphed tonight to Senator A. A. Jones, chairman of the Joint Congressional Commission on Reclassification of the Fed- eral Service ; to Senator Kenyon of the State Labor Committee ; Senator Thomas Sterling and Representative Frederick R. Leh- bach, chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on the Civil Service. Food Supply and Demand, Mrs. Edward P. Costigan, chair- man. Whereas, in addition to the results of inflated currency due to the war, the high cost of living in the United States is in- creased and the production of necessary food supplies diminished THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 6Q5 by unduly restrictive private control of the channels of com- merce, markets and other distributing facilities by large food or- ganizations and combinations; and, Whereas, if our civilization is to fulfil its promise, it is vital that nourishing food be brought and kept within the reach of every home and especially of all the growing children of the nation, be it Resolved, First, that the principles and purposes of the Kenyon- Kendrick-Anderson Bills now pending in Congress for the regu- lation of the meat-packing industry be endorsed for prompt and effective enactment into laws and that this declaration be brought to the attention of the leading political parties in advance of an urgent request for corresponding and unqualified platform pledges; Second, that the Food Supply and Demand Committee be authorized to keep in touch with the progress of the proposed Nation and to cooperate with the National Consumers' League, the American Live Stock Association, the Farmers' National Council and other organizations of like policy in an effort to pro- mote through legislation the realization of such principles and purposes ; furthermore, that the committee be authorized to confer with the Department of Agriculture in regard to the extension of its service, with a view to establishing long-distance information to enable shippers and producers to know daily the supplies and demands of the food market; Third, that the early enactment of improved State and Federal Laws to prevent food profiteering, e and improper hoarding is urged and the strict enforcement ill such present laws is demanded; Fourth, that the various State Leagues of Women Voters are requested to consider the advisability of establishing public markets, abattoirs, milk depots and other terminal facilities; Fifth, that aid be extended to all branches of the league in spreading knowledge of the methods and

its of legitimate cooperative associations and that endorse-

ment be given to suitable national and State legislation favoring their organization and use. The meat packers asked for a hearing and by vote of the con- vention ten minutes were allowed them to present their case. This was done by Louis D. Weld, m rol the coinnuni.il re- fa department of Swift and Company, Chicago, who during his remarks: 'I lu-licve you ladies are not prepared to pass 696 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE on such a vital matter as this proposed legislation ; it is a mighty complicated and intricate subject." A decided titter ran around the room. Women who had been making a study of the question from the home side for a number of years did not resent being told that they did not understand it but they smiled at a man's coming to tell them so. To show that they were fair, when he said that the packers did a great amount of good in carrying food in time of war he was cheered. His argument had no effect. After he had finished the league adopted the committee's recom- mendations and passed the resolution against which the packers had directed their efforts. Social Hygiene, Dr. Valeria H. Parker, chairman. Resolu- tions recommended and adopted on the abolition of commercial- ized prostitution: (a) The abolition of all segregated or protected vice districts and the elimination of houses used for vicious pur- poses, (b) Punishment of frequenters of disorderly houses and penalization of the payment of money for prostitution as well as its receipt, (c) Heavy penalties for pimps, panderers, procurers and go-betweens, (d) Prevention of solicitation in streets and public places by men and women, (e) Elimination of system of petty fines and establishment of indeterminate sentences, (f) Strict enforcement of laws against alcohol and drug trades. Drastic resolutions were passed for the control of venereal diseases, applying alike to men and women. Those on delin- quents, minors and defectives were as follows: (a) Legal age of consent to be not less than 18 and laws to include protection of boys under 18 as well as of girls, (b) Trying cases involving sex offenses in chancery courts instead of in criminal courts is advocated, (c) Mental examination and diagnosis of all children, registration of abnormal cases, education suited to their possi- bilities; supervision during and after school age; custodial care for those unable to adjust to a normal environment, (d) Re- formatory farms for delinquent men and women . . . these insti- tutions to have trained officers. (f) Women on governing boards of all charitable and penal institutions; as probation and parole officers ; as State and local police ; as protective officers ; as court officials, as jurors ; as physicians in institutions for women and on all State and local boards of health. The committee recomTHE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 697 mends the establishment of local protective homes for girls in all the larger cities, proper detention quarters for women await- ing trial and separate detention quarters for juvenile offenders, as well as Travelers' Aid agents at all large railroad stations and steamship embarkation points. Child Welfare Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, chairman. The resolutions adopted covered : i. The endorsement of the Sheppard- Towner Bill for the Public Protection of Maternity and Infancy; (2) of the principle of a bill for physical education about to be introduced into Congress to be administered by the Bureau of Education of the Department of the Interior; (3) of an appro- priation of $472,220 for the Children's Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor; (4) of the Gard-Curtis Bill for the regu- lation of child labor in the District of Columbia. American Citizenship Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley, chairman. Resolutions provided for: i. Compulsory education which shall include adequate training in citizenship in every State for all children between six and sixteen nine months of each year. 2. Education of adults by extension classes of the public schools. 3. English made the basic language of instruction in the common- school branches in all schools public and private. 4. Specific qualifications for citizenship and impressive ceremonials for naturalization. 5. Direct citizenship for women, not through marriage, as a qualification for the vote. 6. Naturalization for married women made possible, American women to retain their citizenship after marriage to an alien. 7. Printed citizenship instruction in the foreign languages for the use of the foreign born, as a function of the Federal Government. 8. Schools of citizenship in conjunction with the public schools, a certificate from such schools to be a qualification for the educational test for naturalization, o. An educational qualification for the vote in all States after a sufficient period of time and ample opportunity for education have been allowed. Laws Concerning the Legal Status of Women, Mrs. Catharine McCulloch, chairman. Following resolutions presented and adopted : I. Independent < ':ip for married women. 2. Equal interest of spouses in each other's real estate. 3. The married woman's wages and business under her sole control. VOU V 698 HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE 4. Just civil service laws in all cities and States now under the spoils system ; amendments to existing civil service laws to enable men and women to have equal rights in examinations and appoint- ments. 5. Mothers' pensions with a minimum amount adequate and definite; the maximum amount left to the discretion of the ad- ministering court ; the benefits of all such laws extended to neces- sitous cases above the age specified in the law, at the discretion of the administering body, and residence qualifications required. 6. The minimum "age of consent" eighteen years. 7. Equal guar- dianship by both parents of the persons and the property of chil- dren, the Utah law being a model. 8. Legal workers should read a book published by the Department of Labor entitled Illegiti- macy Laws of the United States. 9. A Court should be estab- lished having original exclusive jurisdiction over all affairs per- taining to the child and his interests. 10. The marriage age for women should be eighteen years, for men twenty-one years. The State should require health certificates before issuing marriage licenses. There should be Federal legislation on marriage and divorce and statutes prohibiting the evasion of marriage laws. 11. Laws should provide that women be subject to jury service and the unit vote of jurors in civil cases should be abolished. 12. Members of committees of the League of Women Voters should not use their connection with the league to assist any political party. On February 1 7 Miss Mary Garrett Hay in an appeal for funds secured pledges of $44,450. Of this sum the amount of $15,000 by the Leslie Commission was offered by Mrs. Catt as follows : 1 i ) The Woman Citizen as an organ of the league until Jan. i, 1921, at which time we believe that it should issue a Bulletin of its own. (2) The full use of the publicity department of the National American Woman Suffrage Association until May i, 1920. (3) The remainder for the use of the league during the year. Following the convention Mrs. Catt conducted a School of Political Education in the Auditorium of Recital Hall, in Chicago, February 19-24. Its aim was to train women already equipped with competent knowledge of civil government and political sci- ence to teach new voters the ideals of American Citizenship, the THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 699 processes of registering and casting a vote, the methods of mak- ing nominations and platforms, the nature of political parties and the best ways of using a vote to get what they want and to effect the general welfare of the people. Mrs. Catt urged each State to hold a similar State school to be followed by others in every election district, to carry the message to every woman that good citizens not only register and vote but know how to do so and why they do it; to set a standard of good citizenship with an "irreducible minimum" of qualifications below which no person can fall and lay claim to the title good citizen. It was planned to give certificates of endorsement to those who passed 75 per cent, in the examinations at the close. A widespread demand arose for Citizenship Schools, requests coming even from women who were indifferent or opposed to suf- frage but who, now that the vote was assured, were anxious to make good and intelligent use of the ballot. Under the direction of Mrs. Gellhorn, vice-chairman of the National League of Women Voters and chairman of Organization, twenty-seven field directors were employed and schools held in thirty-five States. Missouri had 102 schools, Nebraska 30, Ohio 35. In sixteen States, the State universities cooperated with the League of Women Voters in their citizenship work. Those of Iowa and Virginia employed in their extension departments directors of citizenship schools, who, responding to calls, went to various localities and conducted courses in citizenship. That of Missouri put in a required course for every freshman, with five hours' credit. A normal training school -was conducted in St. Louis in August and a correspondence course of twelve lessons was issued and used by forty-two States. In many cases these schools made a thorough study of the fundamental principles of government. In compliance with the instruction of the convention the Board Of Directors of the League of Women Voters at its post- convention meeting in Chicago selected from the program recom- mended by the standing committees the issues to be presented to the Resolution Committees of the political parties with a request that they be adopted as planks in the national platforms. Two of the Federal measures endorsed by the League in Chicago the hill for the Women's Bureau in the Department of Labor and the 7OO HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE Retirement Bill for Superannuated Public Employees were passed by Congress the following June and became law. Twelve others were grouped into six planks and later condensed into a single paragraph as follows : "We urge Federal cooperation with the States in the protection of infant life through infancy and maternity care; the prohibition of child labor and adequate appropriation for the Children's Bureau; a Federal Department of Education; joint Federal and State aid for the removal of illiteracy and increase of teachers' salaries; instruction in citizenship for both native and foreign born ; increased Federal support for vocational training in home economics and Federal regulation of the marketing and distribu- tion of food; full representation of women on all commissions dealing with women's work and women's interests ; the establish- ment of a joint Federal and State employment service with women's departments under the direction of technically qualified women ; a reclassification of the Federal Civil Service free from discrimination on account of sex; continuance of appropriations for public; education in sex hygiene; Federal legislation which shall insure that American-born women resident in the United States but married to aliens shall retain American citizenship and that the same process of naturalization shall be required of alien women as is required of alien men." Deputations from the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters presented this program to the Resolutions Com- mittee of the Republican party at its convention in Chicago; to that of the Democratic party in San Francisco, and to the convention of the Farmer Labor party and the Committee of Forty-eight held jointly in Chicago. The last named included the following planks: Abolition of employment of children under 16 years of age ; a Federal Department of Education ; Public owner- ship and operation of stock yards, large abattoirs, cold-storage and terminal warehouses ; equal pay for equal work. Five of the planks were included in the Republican platform : Prohibition of child labor throughout the United States; instruction in citizen- ship for the youth of the land ; increased Federal support for vo- cational training in home economics ; equal pay for equal work ; independent citizenship for married women. The Democratic THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS 7OI Resolutions Committee incorporated in its platform all of the requests made by the League of Women Voters except a Federal Department of Education. The Socialist Party held its conven- tion before the planks -were sent out. The Prohibition Party adopted the full program of the League of Women Voters. One of the important steps taken in 1920 by the League of Women Voters in support of its social welfare program was the presenting of these platform planks to the Presidential candidates of the two major parties for their approval. Its representatives with a deputation went to Marion, O., the home of Senator Hard- ing, Republican candidate, October i and to Dayton, O., the home of Governor Cox, Democratic candidate, the following day. Each promised assistance in the event of his election. At the call of Mrs. Park, chairman of the league, delegates representing national organizations which collectively numbered about 10,000,000 women, met in Washington on November 22. These included the National League of Women Voters, General Federation of Women's Clubs, National Council of Women, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, National Women's Trade Union League, National Consumers' League, National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teachers' Associations, Association of Collegiate Alumme, American Home Economics Association, National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs. They formed a Woman's Joint Congressional Committee and endorsed the largest constructive, legislative program ever adopted. It -was arranged that all organizations might partici- pate to the limit of their specific field of work and purposes and at the same time all possibility was eliminated of any being in- volved in supporting a measure or a principle outside of its scope or contrary to its opinions.

 

1. The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs Nettie Rogers Shuler, corresponding secretary of the National American Woman Suffrage Association,