- - BPW International - History 1936 to 1939 Forward or Back

By the time the Federation held its Second International Congress in Paris from July 26 to August 1, 1936, member countries were showing considerable activity in their quest for a share in finding solutions to the larger problems of the day. It was evident, nevertheless, that there was much to be done to free them for such wider participation. The recommendation made by the Prime Minister of Holland that Civic positions be awarded to men but not women appeared to be trying to force women, including teachers, back into domestic service by dismissal on marriage. In Czechoslovakia and Poland, attempts at similar legislation had been successfully combatted by linking women's causes with men's. Even in Great Britain, where prejudice and custom were debarring women from the higher posts, there had been some results. The Italian Federation had proved statistically, in an article by its President Dr. Maria Castellani, that discrimination attempts by various syndicates would be uneconomic and indeed harmful to the best interests of the State. They desisted.

Doubtless, similar difficulties confronted most of the countries represented. It was in striking contrast to these complaints, however, that Mrs. Anni Voipio, President of the Finnish Federation, spoke about her countrywomen. She said that "so far as Finland was concerned, conditions were really too good for women. They had attained so great a measure of equality that they did not appreciate it." It was a startling statement for 1936. Even more, it was prophetic when she added, "The human being who does not have to fight, often becomes soft and indifferent." She saw it, she said, as a passing phase. Indifference has as twin, inattention. It is then that backward, rather than forward, steps may be taken along the path of civilization.

The theme of the Congress was "The woman who works - is she going forward or back?" Over thirty years later this question was still being hotly debated in many quarters with no clear answer.

Meanwhile the role of members was aptly described by Senator Plaminkova, President of the Czechoslovakian Federation. She said that "the woman who works acquires a discipline, exterior as well as interior, which is rarely found in a woman who is never obliged to maintain a schedule."

Mme. Paradowska-Szelagowska, President of the Polish Federation, and herself an accountant, not surprisingly, saw the "way out" for women linked to greater cooperation with men. But first they "must have political rights," she said.

Dr. Signe Svensson, President of the Norway Federation, followed this up with saying she thought that perhaps their "great fault has been to ask for political rights without teaching the great body of women that it is not only a good thing, but that only through politics can they do their duty as citizens." She added that Norwegian women had already been eligible for Parliament for 30 years, but there had never been more than three out of 150 members. Swiss women's political frustration had been felt since 1870 according to Mlle. Madeleine Daulte, their President, and indeed, even as this book is written, has been only slightly alleviated. By its constitution, the International Federation, of course, could not adopt any specific political line, and this restriction affects all the Clubs. But it could, and always has, urged its members to meet the challenge of Citizenship by becoming well informed about the affairs of their own countries and by never failing to exercise whatever individual civic rights they, in fact, at any time might possess.

If the standing of an organisation can be at all assessed, one way is by the calibre of those who are willing to address its meetings. This Congress in Paris could have had no complaints. On July 30, the grand ballroom at the Hotel Lutetia was the scene of a gathering of official and distinguished people, both among the diplomatic corps of many countries and members themselves.

The chief speaker, the first woman in her country to attain Cabinet rank, was the Hon. Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor of the United States. She was presented to the crowded audience by Mme. Cecile Brunschwieg, Under Secretary of State for National Education, and shared the platform with Senator Plaminkova (Czechoslovakia), Dr. Svensson (Member of Parliament, Norway), and Miss Irene Ward (Member of Parliament, Great Britain), all of whom were active members of the Federation. Miss Perkins said she saw the machine not as a menace but as a possible means to the enrichment of human life. "It is the sanitation that protects the health of the child, the maintenance of a productive system adequate to supply food, clothing, shelter and an opportunity to earn a living which offers an economic future for that child. So it is natural that women's obligations should have expanded in the last 100 years beyond the actual physical walls of the home to preserve the essential functions of that home." Miss Perkins added that although the problems also created by the machine were many, the humanities became more possible. Enlarging on this at the Banquet where the theme was "If Women Ruled," Secretary of Labor Perkins said they would stress war against disease and make great progress towards the better care of children. Miss Phillips, in the same spirit, put her emphasis on the "spiritual and moral training of the children, for the hope of the world rests in the way in which we prepare the next generation for the duties and responsibilities of citizenship."

Meanwhile, grown women had much to do to find wider outlets for their own increasing experience. Towards this end, the Committee on Study and Research, presided over by Miss Dorothy Heneker, discussed among other subjects, the Survey into the Economic Status of Women which had been undertaken by the International Labor Office, and in which the Federation had been invited to participate. Labour laws, comparative rates of wages and salaries of men and women, and the family circumstances of gainfully employed women figured in this request. "Equality" Resolutions on constitutional, civic and economic rights, pay and opportunity in relation to sex discrimination, were adopted. Two years' special research with respect to the above I.L.O. request for information was decided upon, and the collaboration with all international professional, business, and similar women's organisations was to be sought.

An announcement which aroused enthusiasm was that Princess Fr. Cantacuzino, President of the Romanian Federation, had offered a prize of 1,000 French francs for the best landscape painting by a woman artist to be shown at the International Exhibition of Fine and Applied Arts at the Jeu de Paume in Paris in 1937. It was the first time that museum had been offered to a women's organisation. Possibly this inspired to greater effort the program of subcommittees on opportunities for women musicians, especially in radio, and for women writers.

The potential growth of the Federation gave rise to proposals from the nominating committee, chaired by Dr. Maria Castellani, that International Officers for the coming year should be chosen according to personality and not geography. In addition, modification of the bylaws to admit six vice-presidents instead of four was to be studied. Those proposals were referred to the Board of Directors, which was sandwiching the sessions of its Sixth Annual Meeting between those of the Congress. With only slight modifications, the Board agreed upon a system of rotation of vice-presidents to be chosen from countries according to the degree of development of their national organisations, while observing the following geographical grouping: the United States; Great Britain and the Dominions; the Latin countries; the Scandinavian countries; Central Europe; and Oriental Europe. The increase to six vice-presidents was agreed upon.

A necessary proviso was, of course, that such officeholders should be outstanding and willing to work for the Federation. Obviously there was no room for anyone who might think that accepting office meant no more than basking in the sunshine of the prestige of its title. It was a time for hard thinking and constructive action.

Finance was continuing to be a problem. Miss Caroline Haslett, Chairman of the Finance Committee pointed out that for six years the Federation had maintained two offices; one was in New York, where the work of collecting funds was primarily handled, the other was first in Geneva and then London. This European office had met the needs of the pioneer period. With the resignation of Miss Heneker as Director, the Board had voted to close it. It recommended that future headquarters of the International should be wherever the President for the time being resided. Congress accepted the recommendation. This would, of course, cut some of the expense, but did not entirely eliminate the anticipated budget deficit of some $2,000. The contribution of $3,500 from the United States Federation which had been a gift from their surplus funds would not again be available, for the simple reason that there was practically no surplus that year. The U.S. was asking its 1,486 Clubs to become associate members at the rate of $5.00 per annum, which was considered to be a sounder way of guaranteeing permanent support.

Miss Gordon Holmes, holding the rare position, for a woman, of Managing Director of one of the best known brokerage houses in London, the National Securities Corporation Ltd., and Director of the National Savings Bank Corporation of Budapest, was present as a guest. She was allowed to intervene and appeal, on the basis of her financial experience, for funds to meet the deficit. At a later session she, not surprisingly, was voted into the chair of the Finance Committee in succession to Miss Haslett, a vice-president, who herself moved that this should be done because of the exceptional qualifications distinguishing Miss Gordon Holmes.

The Hungarian Federation, through Dr. Aszody, offered scholarships for two members which would enable them to travel in Hungary for two months during the summer of 1937, or pursue their work at the University of Budapest.

True to its policy of cooperation with other women's organisations, Senator Plaminkova (Czechoslovakia) was voted to represent the Federation at the meeting of the International Council of Women in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia; Dean Maria Leonard (United States) at the International Federation of University Women in Cracow, Poland; Miss Dorothy Heneker (Canada) at the League of Nations Liaison Committee of Women's International Organisations and similar groups in Geneva. Miss Heneker's devoted work for the Federation as Executive Director had evoked many expressions of regret at her resignation from that appointment owing to heavy personal responsibilities. The Board of Directors had, at the Brussels meeting, instructed Miss Heneker to assume the initiative on behalf of the International Federation in calling an early meeting of the Liaison Committee of Women's International Organisations (see Appendix No. 3). The aim was to secure united action in regard to the examination into the Civil, Political, and Economic Status of Women as set forth in a resolution passed at the 17th Assembly of the League of Nations in September 1935. In due course, acting in cooperation with the International Federation of University Women and the Industrial Section of the Y.W.C.A., steps were taken to collect data from all three memberships. This resulted in a letter being laid before the Governing Body of the Assembly in February 1936 which instructed the I.L.O. to undertake the study of the legislation affecting women's work. The I.L.O. informed Miss Heneker that such a study was being immediately undertaken under five headings. Information was sought from the Federation on two of the five sections: 1) the comparative rates of men's and women's wages, and 2) the family circumstances of gainfully employed women and their responsibility, if any, for dependents. Though this was to mean a real sacrifice of spare hours of women already busy enough in various professions and occupations, it showed that the helpless cry of, "Well, what can we do?" had moved a fraction of a step towards a solution. It was a beginning at a possibly effective level, and all who had brought it about deserved more praise than would ever be realised by following generations.

A brilliant and varied programme of social events had accompanied this Second Congress of the International Federation. Members of the Cabinet, the Quai d'Orsay, the Hotel de Ville, the Prefecture of Police, the Paris Chamber of Commerce - all were hosts to the delegates at receptions.

During the year 1935-36 the formation of a club at Jerusalem, Palestine, had brought the membership up to twenty-four countries. There had been increases in clubs in Canada, Great Britain, France, Finland, Italy, and Switzerland. National Federations of existing clubs had been formed in Holland and Sweden. An increase of 1,000 members was reported from the United States. Many new contacts had been made, and the affiliation of a club in Southern Africa was imminent.

International Night was an established event, being observed each February, and there had been success with international radio broadcasts.

An achievement which must have brought useful publicity to the International was the survey on the status of women made by the Helsinki Club of Finland. The Finnish Foreign Office undertook its publication in pamphlet form, and gave an initial order for 1,500 copies to be distributed to Finnish diplomatic representatives throughout the world.

The year had opened with deep sadness for Great Britain in the death of H.M. King George V on January 20. The International Federation, through its President in a message of sympathy to the Queen, said that its "members throughout the world mourned the passing of a great King and a beloved sovereign."

As the Paris conference and accompanying Board Meeting drew to a close, some old and new officers were voted in. The reelection of Miss Lena Madesin Phillips, as President, and a number of her original team ensured a continuation of the inspired wisdom and stimulation which gives to a young organisation the strength and coherence it so greatly needs. She told delegates: "Let us then be up and about our own responsibilities, our own affairs. No others will be about them for us. For whatsoever we truly deserve, whatsoever we merit, no more, no less, shall come to us."

That many were indeed "up and about" the Federation's affairs is clear from the various records available.

International Headquarters in New York, occupying a new office in the Hotel Biltmore, were that autumn entertaining Miss Caroline Haslett, newly elected vice-president, who was making a whirlwind visit to some of the largest electrical enterprises in the country. She was to have made a nationwide broadcast on October 1, but, unfortunately, both N.B.C. networks were monopolised by the prolongation of the World Series baseball game, and her broadcast was cancelled, a distinction incidentally, which she shared on that occasion with the President of the United States.

What might be termed a by-product of membership of the International Federation was the obtaining of one of the 15 seats available on the Hawaiian Clipper bound for the Orient on October 21, for which there were 3,000 applicants! Miss Lena Madesin Phillips was responsible, and she sent Mrs. Zetta B. Averill, of Washington, off with authority to try to stimulate interest in the formation of branches of the International in that area. Meanwhile Miss Gordon Holmes, enthusiastically in pursuit of funds in her capacity as Finance Chairman, was enjoying encouraging comments from people she tackled. She told Widening Horizons, "I am continually coming across total strangers who delight my heart by telling me what a fine International ours is." Someone said, "Even the Lordly Ones who regard most women's organisations with contempt say, 'Oh the Business women must have what they ask for - they're different.' " Someone else told her, "I have seen the work of this International at Geneva and it is so good that I would support this International for that reason alone."

The Soroptimist Association in Britain in which she had many friends, notably Miss Elizabeth Hawes, subscribed generously to the reduction of the International's deficit.

The most elaborate broadcast yet attempted for International Night linked the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. It was introduced by the President, Miss Lena Madesin Phillips, from New York, and the question was, "Have women made good in Government?"

It would be nice to know to what conclusion, if any, the Speakers came. Among the chief ones were Congresswoman Caroline O'Day of the United States, Miss Irene Ward, Member of Parliament of Great Britain, and Miss Agnes Macphail of the Canadian Parliament.

Three-Year Objective

June, 1937, saw a large attendance at the 7th Board Meeting. It was held in Stockholm, and business was laced with a brilliant social programme arranged by a committee chaired by Her Excellency, Mrs. Maja Sandler, wife of the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs. A twenty-fifth country, Denmark, had now become a member. The President brought her seven year old daughter, Margrethe Kornerup, with her.

From the report, which appeared in Widening Horizons (August 1937), there was a generally satisfied feeling that a positive sense of direction had been achieved. The adoption of a three-year objective gave each of the member organisations a challenging goal, or goals, to reach. Not least among these in the first two phases of the campaign was the call to obtain a larger number of women in both public and executive positions before 1940. This meant working all the way down the line from Cabinet Ministers to local authority appointments. "A smashing attack" upon some of the fallacies hindering women in business was included as the third phase. Miss Elizabeth Hawes, now President of the Soroptimists and present as a guest said, "You have something here worth battling for. Believe in it and fight for it." She added that the time might come when the Soroptimists would "be glad to join in carrying forward the work," and so, in fact, later they did as a member group of the British Federation.

As illustration of what could be done, Sweden's delegate told how that country's women's organisations had pooled their interests, and the result had been to double the number of women in Parliament.

An effective campaign would need money. Miss Gordon Holmes was confident it could be raised. She had a piece of advice to give also, "Show more consideration to your junior executives. If you treat them like people of dignity and prestige, men will quickly follow suit, and the standing of women in the business world will be greatly enhanced."

As the months moved on towards the 3rd Congress, which was to be held in Budapest, Miss Dorothy Heneker drafted a document (see Appendix No. 1) expressing the "extreme and urgent desire that the Assembly (of the League of Nations) should take constructive action in regard to the status of women." The document pointed out that the desired enquiry had now been made by women's organisations and much valuable material obtained. It called for "effective machinery to be established to study this material with a view to ascertaining the best and most practical methods of improving the status of women in many countries where inequalities still exist, and also of establishing the measure of agreement on definite points now possible between Governments."

Every country, in turn, which had played hostess to the International Federation had something special to offer and for which to be remembered. Hungary was no exception. In the glow of a "setting of incomparable beauty," the 3rd Congress was held in Budapest. Hospitality was lavish, with many of the country's great and famous present. Their decorations gleamed and sparkled in accompaniment to "the soft ripple of waters against the Danube shore," in late afternoon and the evenings.

During the days of July 31 to August 6, though Central Europe was uneasy under political stresses and uncertainties, policies were shaped which were to give the International Federation stability which would serve it well for years to come.

As the sessions progressed, a new Constitution emerged. It was more compact, improved in operational efficiency, and with a more stable financial structure than before. The three-year objective initiated at the Board Meeting in Stockholm was budding into an awakened responsibility. Miss Lena Madesin Phillips, in six specific concepts, indicated the trend of the emerging social philosophy and the part women must play in writing it "into the hearts and minds of people and into the structure of governments." Otherwise the world as we knew it would be "returned to the shambles of the wilderness." These were prophetic words, the sense of which many prominent speakers echoed. Among them, Dr. Eleanor Bowes of Canada told delegates that women must learn three things: to regard a promise as sacred; to prepare for responsibility by expanding their range of thought; and to exercise liberty of thought and action. But they were warned by Dr. Emily Hickman of the United States they must never lose sight of service to society.

Meanwhile much action was needed to carry into effect the adopted three-year plan and Miss Gordon Holmes, Finance Chairman, headed the special committee formed to crystallise thinking about it into constructive action. It was she who urged the sending of a questionnaire to business houses asking their cooperation in a study of women in executive posts. An anonymous gift of $5,000 secured by Miss Lena Madesin Phillips made a systematic study possible.

The Constitution at this meeting was changed to establish a triennial period between Congresses, and a new membership classification was created. This admitted other International organisations with a 75% business and professional membership, to meetings and one vote, except on matters of internal policy. Vice-Presidents were increased to eight; seven to be elected, and one place left to be filled by the Board in the event of a flourishing federation being established in territory not yet organised.

At this meeting the work of the International's Legislation Committee was given fresh impetus by the appointment as Chairman of Mme. Marcelle Kraemer-Bach, a specialist in maritime law. She had served on the French Government's committee charged with the redrafting of the French Civil Code.

Miss Lena Madesin Phillips was reelected president without a dissenting vote, and members went forward to more work in the forefront of women's international organisations.

Then, so soon, so suddenly, the volcano in Central Europe, which had been the only shadow behind the brilliant facade of the Budapest Congress, could no longer be ignored.

In the October, 1938 issue of Widening Horizons appeared the following message from the Federation's deeply moved President:

The Lifeline

"The world seems to have lost its substance. The scene shifts so quickly, so violently, that one grasps blindly for something eternal by which to keep his equilibrium.

Since our last issue, we have held a fine, constructive Congress at Budapest but in surroundings of anxiety and despair almost unbelievable. Beneath the crust of Central Europe lay a volcano of social bitterness and unrest.

That crust has now been broken by the tragedy of Czechoslovakia. Frantic appeals from our able leaders there, begged us to 'arouse the public conscience.' Whether with wisdom or compromise, that crisis is for the moment passed. But the moral and psychological faith of the world is nonetheless shaken to the roots.

In such an hour, where shall one turn, upon what depend? The answer ringing down the centuries: only the just, the good and true abide. Trust the eternal verities. All else must pass. Humanity struggles, however blindly, ever upward to the light. It is the eternal spark which will not be quenched."

Thus had the first note of a call to courage in responsibility come to members, and particularly the Officers, of the Federation.

Arrangements for the next meeting of the Board proceeded. It was held in Trondheim, Norway's ancient capital, where the first Federation was formed in Europe under the leadership of Dr. Signe Svensson. The first Chairman of the Membership Committee, Miss Anna With, came from there, and Miss Caro Olden, after two years as Corresponding Secretary, had recently been elected a vice-president. Another newcomer to the Board was Mrs. Alva Myrdal, Past President of the Swedish Federation.

While deeply concerned about the tensions in European countries, the International Federation went on with preparations for its Board of Directors Meeting in June 1939. "Unity is easily destroyed and the will to accomplish a set purpose even more easily deflected," wrote the President in Widening Horizons (April 1939). "Come then to Trondheim," she urged, "Let us prove our loyalty to an ideal, a persistency of purpose."

Her appeal was answered by scores of members, some of whom had travelled only a few miles, to others who had covered 4,000 miles to discuss the place of business and professional women in world affairs, this, in spite of political stresses and great economic stringency. It was true that some familiar faces were missing, but courage and high resolution set the tone.

Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips, newly honoured by her alma mater with the degree of Doctor of Laws, outlined the task ahead. It was to strive earnestly to realise their three-year objective which included getting more women in positions where they could influence economic trends and individually make a more intelligent and effective contribution. A warning to women not to "carry their spirit of service almost to subserviency" came from Mme. F. F. Plaminkova, no longer a Senator of Czechoslovakia, but one of the most respected of the Federation's vice-presidents. She said, "Woman can render her best service to her family and to mankind only if she is free, if she is recognised as a human being who is privileged to carry out her own destiny." They were brave words from one who was already uncertain of what might await her upon returning to her country. This theme was naturally not uncommon to many speakers, but perhaps it was Mrs. J. Borden Harriman, then the only woman minister representing the United States Government in a foreign country, whose words at that moment went deep into the consciousness of her listeners. "Women can render no greater service than to carry into public affairs the same qualities they use in making an integrated, happy, and successful home. For it is spiritual-mindedness that in the last analysis will win the victory."

In spite of everything, the year under review had witnessed many gains, not only in the number of public offices held by individual women, but in the membership of the Federation. Miss Zonola Longstreth, who had been sent to Europe from the United States as field organiser, reported many successes: ten new clubs established by her in Great Britain were formed into a National Federation working alongside the existing British Federation which had been composed of occupational groups rather than cross-section clubs; the addition of Burma to the Federation roster as a twenty-sixth country; the graduation of New Zealand's one club into a national Federation of eight clubs; and a similar step in progress in Australia.

By 1939, much of the business to be done by the Board had assumed a recognised pattern. There was, however, always some matter of special interest for delegates to take back to their own countries for pondering over or initiating some kind of action.

At Trondheim, it was the report of Mrs. Alva Myrdal, a vice-president from Sweden, presented in her absence by Fru Eva Nyblom, which earned this distinction. She had supervised the Federation's first paid professional research. Authoritative data bearing upon women's capacities for advancement was assembled. Among the findings of this research (from which the reader in 1970 may turn a little impatiently, not having shared the struggles), was a refutation of the contentions as to women's inferiority. The lines it followed have, alas, come up again and again over thirty years or more and are too well known to need repetition in the limited space of this book. What was of high significance to the Federation was that questionnaires showed that women's organisations had been helpful in securing the election or appointment of those women who had attained public positions. Also, the survey provided a clear indication that the majority of them had sought office because they either regarded it as a duty or saw in it an opportunity to achieve reforms. A committee of experts was authorised to continue the research and to bring to the public's notice its bearing on current fallacies. A resolution was sent to the I.L.O. urging technical and vocational training for men and women on equal terms. The question as to how the International should function in the event of a general war was, of course, unavoidable. The conclusions are dealt with in the next chapter.

Already in 1934 the Federation had gained prestige as an organisation ready to make a businesslike stand when its members were especially qualified to express an opinion.

By 1939, the Federation had also been made a corresponding member of the Advisory Committee on Social Questions but refrained from undertaking work already being dealt with by other women's organisations whose set-up was devised specifically for such purposes, though as someone is reported to have said, there was nothing particularly feminine in criminal law. Nevertheless the women who represented their government on various international bodies centred upon Geneva, played a very special part. Their significance lay in "the degree to which they may modify the common standards of values." They were said to "attach less importance to the obsession of precedent and authority, and the best of them care, above all else, for life itself. They reject ideas which harm it; they work ardently for causes which help it. That is the measure of their value, and it lends them influence out of all proportion to their small numbers." So wrote Dorothy Heneker, the Federation's representative in Geneva, in Widening Horizons (September 1939).

That care "for life itself" was certainly uppermost in the minds of all who attended the Trondheim meeting. It underlay all the gaiety and hospitality provided by the hostess country, so small, and yet "with a well integrated programme and as effective as any Federation anywhere in the world."

A banquet brought the official events to a close. In the next days parties left to return home, or in the case of the luckier ones, to tour the lovely fjords and visit member clubs as they journeyed to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Soon a great darkness was to fall upon the world. Many would have occasion to recall the words of Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips as she wished them Godspeed:

"I realise that we as business and professional women cannot alone solve the present problems or set the world right. But each of us can turn towards the dawn of a new and better day, can gladly and courageously lay hold upon any nearby task which seems to speed its coming."