At Des Moines

At Des Maines

The National League of Women Voters in convention at Des Moines, la., heard a number of important speakers, discussed many matters relating to women in politics and in civil life, and passed resolutions declaring its program for the coming year.

P:Mrs. Maud Wood Park, president of the League, in her opening speech, called to the attention of her fellows the importance of arousing citizens to take part in elections:

" In a nation where disfranchisement is a punishment for crime, more than half the men and women of 21 and over choose to disfranchise themselves. ... In 1920 there were 54,421,832 men and women in the United States eligible to vote. Only 26,705,246 voted." P: If At the opening session a rule was adopted limiting speeches to three minutes. P:Said Mrs. Park: "The League never advocates the election of women to any position solely because they are women."P: There was no crying of "Louder, louder" as at male conventions. When delegates could not hear they quietly raised their hands. P: Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, advocated participation by the United States in the World Court. P: A resolution was adopted to recommend State laws providing: "An equal interest of spouses in each other's real estate. A half interest and control by each spouse of all property acquired after marriage by either or both of the spouses, with power in each spouse to devise and bequeath one-half interest in this property." P:A delegate from Missouri proposed to amend this recommendation by adding that marriage should be considered "a spiritual relationship rather than a business partnership." P: Mrs. Park reprimanded those who groaned in disapproval. After an hour's debate the amendment was defeated. P:f Quantities of birth control literature appeared, but, according to reports, was not circulated. Greetings were read from Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, who was one of the founders of the League. P: Mrs. Gifford Pinchot, wife of the Governor of Pennsylvania, declared in a speech: " I am a politician of the most hard-boiled and shelled-back variety--and proud of it." P: Lord Robert Cecil spoke on the League of Nations and the desirability of the United States entering it. P:The League, by resolution, pledged its support to the President's World Court proposal as a first step toward international amity.