Raising Money

A meeting of the American Women's Association was held last week in Madison Square Garden, Manhattan.* The purpose was to boost the Association's campaign to raise $2,000,000 for a great women's clubhouse. Some 10,000 women were present. Part of the publicity was to make honorary members of 49 women--one from each state and from the District of Columbia.

The 49 included Governess Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming (Governess Ferguson was omitted; from Texas was chosen Florence P. Sterling, an officer of the Humble Oil Co.); Reah H. Whitehead, a justice of the peace from Washington; Mary M. Bartelme, a judge of the Chicago Juvenile Court; Izetta Jewell Brown, a politician from West Virginia (TIME, June 2, 1924)--business women, club women, attorneys, doctors, authors, editors, educators--all the usual and unusual occupations ranging to Elizabeth Daingerfield, Kentucky breeder of fine horses.

Kathleen Norris presided, Madame Schumann-Heink sang, Maud Wood Park spoke and the audience gave a tremendous ovation to Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks, who appeared with her husband. She got up in front of the microphone, in pink, saying:

"What the temperamental actress is quite likely to think her due and privilege often fills the level-headed business woman with horror. I am speaking now of such things as the early hour of arrival at the studio in the morning, working evenings and holidays, to say nothing of having to appear before the camera in a darkened, shut in studio when all the sunshine of California bids me come out and play. Then, too, the extravagance of the actress, when it comes to scenery and costumes, often shocks the business woman."

She added as an afterthought: "Oh, you will have to elect Douglas a member, too, because we never go anywhere without each other."

Douglas was bashful but they made him speak:

"I am terribly out of my element, terribly at sea. I know what one woman--Mary--can do and I can imagine what 10,000 women can do. "I am married to an organization, you know, Mary Pickford, but when I married I insisted on retaining my maiden name."

*The Madison Square Garden in which the Democratic National Convention was held in 1924 no longer exists. The new Madison Square Garden is not near Madison Square but in the block between Sixth and Seventh Aves. and 50th and 51st Sts.