021874 hs Women caucus to find there's a big ahead

By DONNA GREENE
Staff Writer

New York's first state-wide women's political caucus was held at Seneca Falls in 1848; its second was held in White Plains this weekend, and if Susan B. Anthony could have been there, she'd have agreed, "You've come a long way baby, - but there's work to be done."

At the time of the Seneca Falls convention "women's lib" was an unknown term; women had neither the right to vote nor the right to own property when New York's first feminist declared themselves by right equal to men. The women's movement was a thing laughed at by other women and scorned by men.

But this weekend in White Plains, the 154th anniversary of Ms. Anthony's birth, things were different.

THE WOMEN- came from all over the state; their ranks included congresswoman (Bella Abzug), an announced candidate for lieutenant governor (State Senator Mary Ann Krupsak), an author and consumer advocate (Betty Furness) and other state and local elected officials.

But even more than that, the group consisted of 375 women determined to get women "the power to represent our own Interests ' " through political activism.

In their three day convention at the White Plains Hotel, the women discussed strategy to implement the national "Win With Women in '74' campaign and lobbying methods to convince men to back women's issues.

"Women have never had the right to govern themselves," Judy Lerner of Harrison, one of the conference's organizer's said. "We represent 53 per cent of the electorate ... But our concern is for all people, not just women. I'm here today because women can make a difference. "

STATE SENATOR KRUPSAK, an announced candidate for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant governor, echoed these remarks.

"First and foremost we're women, but let's put our cause into other people's - humans - needs . . . We're going to have to win elections and be there ourselves to make It happen."

Effective lobbying of elected officials was also given a priority. Rep. Abzug (D-N.Y.) called on political party leaders and other groups, including the AFL-CIO, to back up their "token pledges" of support for women by "seeking out, supporting and helping to finance women candidates in the 1974 elections."

She added, "A token will buy you a subway ride in New York City, but token pledges are not enough to send more women to office."

OTHER women conducted sessions in lobbying techniques, explaining how to pressure elected officials to support equal pay, equal credit and equal rights.

if the Seneca Falls convention was held in relative obscurity and looked down upon, the White Plains convention was given the limelight and praise.

Governor Malcolm Wilson proclaimed Feb. 15 "Susan B. Anthony Day," and sent the caucus a telegram of well wishes. White Plains Acting Mayor Harry Gordon declared the three days "Women in Politics weekend." Senator Jacob Javits sent an administrative assistant; and Congressman Peter Peyser, R-Irvington, and Assemblyman J. Edward Meyer, D-Chappaqua, attended as observers "to learn."

SOME w o m e n present looked with skepticism on the presence of Peyser and Meyer.

"They're pandering to women, " one delegate commented. "They see the handwriting on the wall. They want our votes; it's just an expediency."

But a second looked at it from another prospective.

"Obviously," she said," they feel we are a force of decided proportion in what may be their future political plans. This may be the first time politicians have recognized we are a body to contend with, not just a fringe movement."

Speaking specifically of Meyer, she added, "He has shown us some sympathy, but we're asking for more than sympathy; we're asking for initiative."