WHEN LADIES MEET

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 3

WHEN LADIES MEET

SOME VERBAL TILTING UNITED STATES ELECTIONS (From a Special Correspondent.) NEW YORK, Nov 11 Dorothy Parker, as renowned for her wit as for her short stories, scored a verbal victory during the Presidential campaign over Claire Booths Luce, also noted for thq' uninhibited use of her mordant wit as well as for the success of her plays, particularly "The Women." Mrs Luce's speech before the Chicago Republican Convention caused much commotion among the public. She is a Connecticut member of the House of Representatives. Referring to President Roosevelt, she said: "He is the only American President who has lied us into a war because ho did not have the political courage to lead us into it —thus in the end the shame of Pearl Harbour is Mr Roosevelt's shame." As a consequence of this speech Dorothy Parker is alleged to have said, "Well, now, Claire can retire to her ivory sewer. Disapproval o 1 Manner Mrs Luce's activities have also brought an outburst from the niece of Susan B. Anthony, the great exponent of woman suffrage. She said: Her voice and her pen have sought to array us against our Russian allies, to stir up _ capital against labour, Gentile against Jew, native-born against for-eign-born and servicemen against their commander-in-chief."

Feeling against Mrs Luce's methods, however, was not sufficient to overcome political convictions, and she retained the seat. Nevertheless, there was definite disapproval of the manner in which she campaigned for the vote, as she was re-elected by a very narrow margin of 2000 votes, her 29-year-old lawyer opponent making it a close finish. The re-election of President Roosevelt was in a manner *a women's victory. Approximately 60 per cent of the total civilian vote was cast by the women of America, and they made good use of their opportunity. Since the first poll was taken this year of women's opinion in politics, they expressed preference by 4 per cent for President Roosevelt over Mr Dewey, and,_ as proved by results, have stuck consistently to their original views. Women In Politics _ Visitors to America during tho electron campaign have been struck with the intense interest taken by women in this country's politics. Although it is not compulsory for Americans to vote, election day found women in New York City and elsewhere throughout the country placing the importance of voting above domestic duties. In fact, they waited in line to vote from 6 o'clock in the morning, bringing children in perambulators if other arrangements could not be made for their care. Women, if they so desired, could wield a formidable power in American government, but evidently tliev are unprepared to do so because they helped to elect only nine of 35 women who sought Congress seats. Six of these were members of the last Congress. Tho gains were all on the Democratic side, thus bringing the unbalanced number of six Republican women to one Democratic woman up to five Republicans and four Democrats. The old adage, "This is a man's world," still seems to bo true in American politics. ROBOT WEAPONS PROBLEM FOR PEACEMAKERS The fact that the next war could be started by a small country intensifies the problem of the peace-makers, writes Raymond Morley in the Wall Street Journal. The robot has suggested hundreds of possibilities to bloodthirsty minds. The decisive weapon in another war might be made in a back room or a woodshed. Military men now know that traditional military defences are gone for ever. . The great danger is that tho peace this time will be made, as it was before, by men whose concepts are shaped by what happened in this war. But as soon as the last gun is fired the techniques of this war will be dead. The threats to future peace will be everywhere, and preventive measures should be much broader and more intensive than any responsible statesmen has yet suggested. PEACE MOVES FAIL SURPRISE FOR VON PAPEN Late this spring Franz von Papen, diplomat of the Nazis, visited Madrid to put out peace feelers, states the Atlantic Monthly. His mission failed, as did Hibbentrop's similar attempt to negotiate with Moscow somewhat earlier. Neither could obtain a hearing. These peace moves were clearly sponsored by the Nazi hierarchy, on Hitler's calculation that a final effort to split the Allies might prove successful. While in Spain von Papen is reported by French underground intelligence agents to have uncovered evidence that the German Junkers, operating through the older Army officers, were also attempting to sue for peace terms by way of the Vatican.