By IDA CLYDE CLARKE

The year 1925 has, perhaps, marked more progress for women in all fields than any previous year in the history of the woman movement. Never have so many National and International meetings of women been held. Never have so many women attained recognition in so many fields. Never have so many women been appointed or elected to offices of public trust. Notable also is the spirit of co-operation and understanding that has pervaded the world of organized women, and a tendency toward more concentration of effort is noticeable all along the line. The "Milleniumaniacs" we will doubtless always have with us, those who claim to believe that the world will be saved just as soon as their favorite reform shall have been accomplished. But on the whole we are coming into a saner, more tolerant mood, and are working with more sureness and with clearer vision.

It is a fact worthy of note that the most cutting criticism of women during the past year has come, not from men writers, but from women. Three articles have appeared in magazines that have caused a resentment to surge in the hearts of women everywhere. These have been written by George Madden Martin, Katherine Fullerton Gerould and Corra Harris, in the Atlantic Monthly, Scribners, and the Ladies Home Journal respectively. All three are professional writers. Not one could be classed as a feminist in any sense of that word. In the twenty years experience in attending women's conventions of all kinds the writer has never seen one of these women at one of these meetings. However clever they may be as writers, whatever of technique they may have achieved, however high the market value of their productions may be, not one of the three could really be adjudged competent to sit in judgment on the purposes, methods and accomplishments of organized

women.

Mrs. Martin's viewpoint seems provincial. So charmingly does she write that one sees after reading her article in the Atlantic, a delightful picture of George, a flaxen-haired kiddy, skipping gleefully beside her tophatted, frock-coated father-a Southern gentleman of the old school-on the way to do the family marketing, while dainty, lovely, stay-at-home little mother devotes herself to those duties dear to the feminine heart. In fact, one is so charmed with Mrs. Martin's writing that one is almost tempted to overlook the weakness of her arguments and the unsoundness of her logic. But the sad fact about all this is that the editor of the Atlantic Monthly, probably having no more knowledge of the psychology of organized women than Mrs. Martin has, declined to publish an answer to Mrs. Martin's article, though it was written by the President of the organization which Mrs. Martin attacked. Mrs. Martin has an unquestionable right to her opinion on the Child Labor Amendment and to the expression of that opinion, but it was unfortunate that she made the expression of her views on this subject a criticism of the largest group of organized women in America, and it is more unfortunate that the man to whom she sold her article declined to give publicity to a reply to her criticism.

Mrs. Gerould's article in Scribner's created little discussion because of the limited circulation of the magazines for which she writes, and because the rank and file of women know as little about her as she apparently knows about them.

Mrs. Catt said some things that should be said concerning Mrs. Harris's article in the Ladies Home Journal, but the reply reached only a few

thousand women through the Woman Citizen, while the first article was read by millions.

So long as women have nothing to say regarding the editorial policy of the great influential magazines and newspapers of the country, and nothing to say as to the material that is printed in the news and feature columns, they may expect to be the victims of ill-informed professional women writers and men-editors evidently uninformed as to the psychology of women.

Of all the women who are talked about and written about and heard about, there are a few who stand out as leaders and whose names are widely known.

Though less in the public eye than she formerly was, Jane Addams continues to be, to foreigners at least, America's best known woman. In her own country we hear little of her. She is passionately interested in "World Peace" and the organization with which she is most prominently identified is the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. American women should honor Jane Addams for the magnificent work she has done, for the books she has written, for the profound study she has made of the great international questions that bear so directly upon the subject of "World Peace."

Mrs. Catt is the outstanding figure among our active American Clubwomen. She, too, is known throughout the world for her brilliant work in the interest of extending the franchise for women and most recently for her dramatic and telling efforts in the interest of world peace. Mrs. Catt is per

haps our greatest stateswoman. She is a clear thinker, a gifted writer, and a brilliant speaker. American women should join forces and place Mrs. Catt where her voice would be heard around the world.

Among the leaders of organized women we have several who are conspicuous for their ability. Mrs. Winter retired from the presidency of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in June, 1924, being ineligible for re-election. She is one of the most popular women in America. Besides being an experienced club leader, Mrs. Winter is a writer of distinction. She is now one of the contributing editors of the Ladies Home Journal. Mrs. Winter's successor as president of the General Federation is Mrs. John D. Sherman, a woman of wide experience, unquestionable background and striking ability. Five living past-presidents of the General Federation are: Mrs. Winter, Mrs. Percy V. Penny backer, Mrs. Philip North Moore, Mrs. Josiah E. Cowles, and Mrs. Dimies T. S. Denison.

Mrs. Maud Wood Park retired as president of the National League of Women Voters in June, 1925, and was succeeded by Miss Belle Sherwin of Cleveland, Ohio. Both are able executives.

We

A perusal of the pages that follow will show that we have made remarkable progress in the field of practical politics. We have women governors, women legislators, and women in many important public offices. have women in our State Legislatures. But, alas, only three women will sit in our National Congress. For the first time in its history the American Academy of Science elected a women to membership-Dr. Florence Sabin, of Johns Hopkins. And in all fields there have been advances that are equally as significant.

OF INTERNATIONAL INTEREST

A number of International meetings of wide interest were held during 1924. Brief reviews of these are given for the reason that the majority of these organizations have not met in 1925. For a complete list of the International meetings scheduled for the next three years see page 223.

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Of interest to women all over the world was the sixth quinquennial of the International Council of Women held in Washington, D. C., U. S. A., in May, 1925. Delegates come from thirty-eight countries and they represented thirty-eight million organized women.

The Marchioness of Aberdeen and Temair, President of the International Council, used the same gavel that Susan B. Anthony used in 1888, when the International Council was organized. On the stage were Mrs. Ogilvie Gordon, of England, Madame Avril de Sainte-Croix, of France; Froken Henni Forchhammer, of Denmark; Mrs. Henry Dobson, Tasmania; Miss L. van Eeghen, of Holland; Frau Anna Backer, of Norway; Mrs. W. E. Sanford, of Canada; Mrs. Philip North Moore, of the United States. The International Council uses three official languages-English, French and German. Fraulein Beckmann, of Germany, and Madame Romniciano, of Roumania, speaking French, repeated business and speeches in turn as fast as they were spoken. In her opening address Lady Aberdeen gave a clear answer to the question, What is the International Council and what does it do? She explained that the main object of the International Council of Women is to form a center around which all women's societies and movements can gather, confer and make the voice of organized womanhood heard regarding various subjects of world interest as they come up. In all countries the mode of organization is the same. Organizations, not individuals, are members. gave the five great aims of the organization as: permanent peace; equality of political, educational, legal and industrial privileges and opportunities for service between men and women; an equal moral standard; suppression of the traffic in women and of exploitation of women and children; and the right of children for physical, mental and spiritual development.

She

These interests were represented by standing committees, and the first two days and a half were devoted to meetings of these committees for acquaintance and for discussion of resolutions which had already been submitted to the National Councils and printed. Perhaps it will make clearer the aims of the Council to list the standing committees : Finance, Press, Peace and Arbitration, Laws and Legal position of Women, Suffrage and Rights of Citizenship, Equal Moral Standard and Traffic in Women, Public Health, Trades and Professions, Education, Emigration and Immigration, of which the chairman was the lamented Dr. Kate Waller Barrett, of Virginia.

One new Standing Committe was added this year-Child Welfare, with Lady Aberdeen as Convener.

The printed resolution that the International Council of Women "strongly endorses the principle of simultaneous international disarmament" brought forth every shade of opinion from the various countries, and especially a wide division of opinion within the United States-from the extreme pacifist to a former President-General of the D. A. R., who said that the only way to secure peace is for all countries to be thoroughly armed. Mrs. Corbett Ashby, President of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, said that if we prepare for war, we will get war. The resolution, as passed, recognizing general disarmament as "the ideal to be aimed at," declared for a gradual simultaneous disarmament, but with the provision, demanded by Poland, that sense of security must precede disarmament.

The League of Nations received considerable mention. All but three of the thirty-eight National Councils represented came from countries which are now in the League. The United States and Germany refrained from voting on the League of Nations resolution. All of the other National Councils

were favorable to endorsing the work of the League and the appointment of Liaison Officers to keep in close touch with its various activities. The Court of International Justice was endorsed.

The treatment of minorities and the care of refugees were discussed. There was brisk difference of opinion on the desirability of women's close identification with political parties and on the formation of women's blocs within the parties. As passed, the resolution recommended membership and work in the parties; also the appointment of women's committees to consider questions of special moment to women before they come before a joint meeting with the men. It also urged that the women of various parties unite on women's interests.

The Council endorsed equal pay for equal work; a more effective organization for the protection of immigrants and for a campaign against traffic in women. It asked the National Councils to urge on their governments the appointment of a sufficient force of policewomen with adequate powers and status. It planned to undertake a survey of the married woman in industry. It sought co-operation with the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in securing uniform laws providing citizenship for married women, and voted for a general co-operation with the International Woman Suffrage Alliance to prevent duplication of effort.

The program of the Save the Children Fund was accepted as part of the program of the International Council of Women Child Welfare Department. This is the international organization which was formed, on the lines of the American Relief Administration, to care for the war-stricken children of Europe. At Lady Aberdeen's request Mlle. Ferriere came from Geneva, the Fund's headquarters, to present the cause of the needy children of the world.

Lady Aberdeen explained that it is necessary to take up the new matter a year before a meeting so that it may be sent out to the National Councils in all the countries, which must submit the question to their various federations. If the proposition receives sufficient support, it must then be re-submitted to all the National Councils three months before the general meeting. This gives ample opportunity for the delegates from every National to know just what subjects will be discussed and how their constituent bodies feel about each subject.

LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

"A new International Order" was the general theme of the fourth congress of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, which was held in Washington May 1-7, 1925. At the Vienna congress of 1922 the League undertook the collection of suggestions for a revision of the Versailles Treaty, looking toward a juster basis for world organization, and three plans, originating with different sections,, were presented at the Washington sessions. These will be sent to the national sections for study and criticism, and reported back to the next congress.

The French section proposed a new international organization to be known as "The League of Peoples." In this it is proposed that representatives of both the majority and the minority governments of every nation should be included, and also representatives of groups of workers. It would seek to find a way for removing economic causes of war.

The pro-Leaguers stood for the League of Nations as an instrument for achieving world confederation, though with certain changes, while others repudiated it altogether. It was not included among the resolutions. These indorsed the World Court; President Coolidge's suggestion for an international conference on limitation of armaments; the outlawry of war by international

agreement; the establishment of university courses in international relations and world peace, and the appointment of an international commission to study the development of chemical warfare and the organizing of opposition to it.

The resolutions committee declined to include in its report advocacy of the equal rights amendment as a means of securing sex equality in this country. Standing for the general principle of equality, the League chose not to recommend specific methods for securing equality. The League also refused to urge its national sections to work for immediate and total disarmament of their countries without regard to what other countries were doing. Miss Jeannette Rankin, Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead and others opposed this radical proposal, calling first for outlawry of war and some form of world organization.

A re-wording of its aims was adopted by the League as follows:

1. Complete and universal disarmament on land, on sea and in the air, abolition of the hunger blockade and of the prostitution of science for destructive purposes.

2. World organization for social, political and economic co-operation.

3. Social, political and economic equality for all, without distinction of sex, race, class or creed.

4. Moral disarmament through education in the spirit of human unity, and through the establishment of social justice.

Delegates from more than twenty countries were present. Miss Jane Addams was unanimously re-elected International President.

The congress was followed by an International Summer School at Chicago.

PEACE CRUSADERS FROM WALES

For perhaps the first time in history a Peace Memorial was presented by the women of one country to the women of another. Three Welsh women -Mrs. Peter Hughes-Griffiths, Miss Mary Ellis and Miss Elined Pryscame to America in February, 1925, as a delegation from the women of Wales to the women of America, bringing a Peace Memorial. The presentation took place in New York on February 19 at a luncheon attended by several hundred American women representing sixty organizations and sixteen million members.

Mrs. Hughes-Griffiths, head of the Welsh delegation, made the speech of presentation, telling the dramatic story of the way in which Welsh women of all classes had united to ask our co-operation in winning world peace. A script copy of the Memorial, beautifully bound in morocco, was presented and then a great oak chest containing 390,296 signatures was opened and the keys and padlocks were turned over.

Mrs. James Lees Laidlaw, chairman, accepted the Memorial, and short speeches were also made by Miss Ruth Morgan, Mrs. Frank Vanderlip, Mrs. Frank Day Tuttle, Miss Evangeline Johnson, Dr. Katherine Bement Davis, and others. It was an impressive occasion to the welcoming Americans, and the attractive personality of the delegation made their mission still more vivid and moving.

On February 20 the Welsh delegation was entertained in Washington at a dinner given by the Sub-committee on the World Court of the Women's Joint Congressional Committee. The dinner was given at the clubhouse of the American Association of University Women, with Mrs. Raymond Morgan presiding.

The next day the delegation was received by President Coolidge at the White House. Both the Memorial and the chest will probably rest in the Smithsonian Institute at Washington.