January 1, 1998
     
Mr. Arthur Levitt
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC  20549
     
Dear Mr. Levitt,
     
RE:  Opposition to Rule S7-25-97 (Stockholder Gag Rule)
     
        This letter, written in my capacity as Kansas National Organization for
Women State Coordinator, is in behalf of women whose voices are largely 
unheard.  It is also a highly personal issue for me as you will see by the 
enclosed three letters written by me to former Senator Nancy Kassebaum, 
Representative Edward Markey  and the board of the Kansas City Securities 
Association.  The intent of the letters was to make a difference in the 
future for women in the securities industry.   Aware  that you will not 
have time to read them, I am only submitting them as evidence of my 
tenacity and attempt to bring positive change to an industry dominated by 
white males.
     
Because of my time with A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., I joined the National 
Organization for Women, a feminist group working toward creating positive 
change for women.  As an officer of NOW, one of the responsibilities is to 
handle the callers who are seeking NOW's assistance in gender based issues.
 A majority of the calls deal with workplace issues such as pay equity,
sexual harassment, hostile workplace environment and retaliation after 
complaints are made to supervisors or management.  Attorneys representing 
women in discrimination cases report women are losing in the courts.  In 
cases where awards are made, they are often overturned on appeal.  Of 
course, you and I both know, justice goes most readily to those with the 
deepest  pockets and caps on awards made in discrimination cases allow 
companies who fall under EEO guidelines to continue discrimination 
practices at what may be considered a minor cost of doing business.  My 
first question to a caller distressed by her situation is - how many are 
employed by the company.  It is appalling that businesses, large or small, 
can incorporate and operate without conscience.  
     
Recently, I was appointed to the board of the Kansas City Securities 
Association.  A 'no brainer' since I simply said,  "I notice there is no 
female industry representation on your board" and voila, I was a board 
member.  At the December meeting, during  a discussion of cancellation of a 
program titled  Diversity is Not a Four Letter Word,  (arising from my 
request to address hostility toward women in securities industry)  the 
attitude of many males was inadvertently stated by a comment intended to be 
humorous substituting the word  adversity for the diversity.  The word 
adverse defined,  to act against or opposed to one's interest.  Adversity 
is defined as a calamitous or disastrous experience, a synonym is 
misfortune.   Summed up, with diversity  lacking, companies will be allowed 
to continue business practices as usual.  White males will be  saved from 
adversity, misfortune and the disastrous experience of competing with 
approximately 75% of the population, those who are neither white nor male.
     
Passage of Rule S7-25-97 to stop shareholder initiatives from bringing 
unfair employment practices to the attention of the public at shareholder 
meetings will allow companies to maintain the status quo and be harmful to 
the workers.  Please do not allow passage of the Shareholder Gag Rule.  
     
Sincerely,
     
Sharon Anne Lockhart
Kansas NOW State Coordinator