OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Spirit of the Pioneer Mother

The Spirit of the Pioneer Mother
By GEORGE H. HIMES
AN incident recently came to my knowledge illustrating the spirit of the pioneer mothers of Oregon.
In the winter of 1844-5, Mr. Francis Perry, then living near Muscatine, Iowa, returned home one day and said to his wife, then in her sixteenth year, and the mother of a babe six months old:
"Elizabeth, I want to talk with you. I have made up my mind to go to Oregon. Now, you can do as you please—go with me, or go home to your father and mother with the baby, and wait until I go out there and get a home started, when I will send for you or come back after you."
"Francis," she said, "when I married you I left my father and mother to live with you; and when you get ready to go to Oregon I will go with you."
Soon afterwards Mrs. Perry's father visited her and said:
"My child, come back home with the baby and stay until your husband has a home ready for you in that far-away land. Just think of it! There is nothing out there but savages and wild beasts. Mr. Perry will necessarily have to be away from home much of the time in order to earn the means to make a start with; and he will return home some time and find you and the baby murdered or destroyed by wild beasts. My child, don't go, don't go!" And tears came streaming from his eyes.
"Father," Mrs. Perry said, "my duty to my husband impels me to go with him. When I married him I left you and mother to help him make a home; and now with all possible love and respect for you, my deepest convictions are that I must go with him."
Then the mother of the determined young woman spoke up and said, recalling her own young married life, "Father, Elizabeth is right; don't talk to her any more!"
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Visiting Nurse Association

The Visiting Nurse Association
By MRS. B. H. TRUMBULL
THE Visiting Nurse Association of Portland was organized in 1902, and has gained steadily in strength and usefulness. While the City of Portland is free from the crowded slum and its poverty-stricken population, there is great need for the work of the visiting nurse. Sunlight, fresh air, and a bountiful water supply are agencies which help Portland maintain a low death rate, but, unfortunately, nature unaided cannot overcome the habits of ignorance and carelessness.
As stated in its constitution, the Association is organized to "benefit and assist those otherwise unable to secure assistance in time of illness, to promote cleanliness, and to teach the proper care of the sick." When first organized, there were funds enough to support the nurse for only two months, but as the purpose of the work became better known, money was forthcoming.
In all work of this character, the most difficult lesson to learn is that of helping without weakening the recipient. It is hard to know just when to withdraw the support and comfort so much needed, but which if continued would result in weakening the moral fiber of the family. It is a work which demands trained workers, because of its strong appeal to the sympathies. To meet successfully the demands of this complex situation, requires a steady, carefully trained judgment, and much depends on the personality of the nurse.
The work during the past year has doubled, and it became necessary during the winter to employ emergency nurses for the severe cases. It is with the chronic cases that one learns the value of organized charity. Nothing else is so demoralizing in its effect on the already strained resources of a family as prolonged sickness, and here is where the nurse appreciates the intelligent response of organized charity. Through it the rent is paid, the larder is stocked, clothing is provided, and work is found through the City Board of Charities, the benevolent societies, and the different church organizations. The hospitals have been most generous in placing their resources at the command of the Association, and the physicians have been its earnest supporters.
The following organizations have affiliated with the Association and maintain a delegate on its Advisory Board: The Portland Woman's Club, the King's Daughters of Trinity Church, the Y. W. C. A., the Calvary Presbyterian Church, St. Anne's Society, and the philanthropic branches of the Unitarian Church, which include the Woman's Alliance, the Wm. G. Eliot Fraternity, and the Christian Union. In addition, a little circle of women of the Unitarian Church, called the Unity Guild, supplies the patients with such delicacies as may be required. The King's Daughters have kept the maternity bag supplied, and St. Anne's Society has generously assisted in paying for extra nurses. The Jewish Ladies' Relief Society has been a staunch friend of the Association ever since it was organized.
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Woman's Emergency Corps

The Woman's Emergency Corps
By MRS. HENRY E. JONES
HAVING been president of the Emergency Corps and Red Cross Society of Portland, Oregon, during the years that our Oregon men were in active service at the Philippines, I am asked to give something of the story of the work performed by that organization during the exciting days from April 26, 1898, when the first call for help came until all that was left of our men from Oregon came home again to take up the threads of their tangled skein and work them back into straight warp and woof. To turn the demoralized life of a volunteer soldier back to the routine of every-day life calls for all that is best in man.
The task of telling this story is not an easy one. All outward show of appreciation has been given and received, and only the remembrances are left in the minds of these fourteen hundred women of Portland who, with untiring zeal, worked for the soldiers during the Spanish war. The women of this city were tremendously in earnest on that day (the 26th of April), when there was a call through the Oregonian for all loyal and patriotic women to assemble at the Armory, prepared to co-operate with state officials and men of every degree in finding ways and means to help equip our young soldiers for the seat of war. So quick were the flashes of enthusiasm at that meeting that before many of us realized the detail and breadth of the work which was to fall into our hands we were an organization and ready for any work of emergency which might fall to us to do. I think it not too much to say that a better organized body of women were never banded together than these loyal women, who gave their personal efforts, their money, their influence, many of them their whole time and strength to the work of making the life of our new-born soldiers bearable while away from the environment of home and friends and thrown into that uncivilized element in the Philippines. Not a soldier from any state in the Union passed through Portland unnoticed or unfed. Words of encouragement by our enthusiastic workers have brought by correspondence a bountiful return of thankfulness and good will, not only to the women of Oregon, but to the State of Oregon, with its wealth of roses which brightened their stuffy and dismal cars en route to California. After three and a half years the Emergency Corps and Red Cross Society brought its official career to a close in Portland. No undertaking in the cause of humanity ever received greater assurance of the heartfelt gratitude of more men and women than this, and the records bear testimony to its phenomenal success.
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Woman's Relief Corps

The Woman's Relief Corps
By JULIA A. KEMP LAWTON
THE Woman's Relief Corps, the auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, numbering now almost 150,000 members, is the largest beneficent and patriotic organization in the world. It was organized in 1883 in Denver, Colorado, following a call by Commander-inChief Paul Vandervoort. From a small band of charter members, it has grown beyond all anticipation in numbers and in bounteous charity.
The Relief Corps is organized to give, not to receive. Loyal women, whose names are interwoven with professional and social activities, whose hearts beat always in sympathy for the unfortunate, have been proud to have their names upon its rolls.
The Oregon department of the Woman's Relief Corps was organized January 28, 1885. Later departments were organized in all the other states in the old Oregon Country. There is now in Oregon a membership of over 3000. Not so large as in the states of the East, but relatively equal to them in all its activities. Through the Corps thousands of dollars have been given for relief; a liberal contribution has been made to the fund to purchase the Andersonville Prison grounds, now converted into a National Park. It also assists generously in the yearly decoration of the soldiers' graves in the South, in the relief of the flood sufferers in different states, in the building and furnishing of homes and hospitals, and contributes to a fund now being raised to build cottages at the Soldiers' Home so that husband and wife may spend their last days together in comfort, the guests of a grateful people. The widowed have been assisted in their home needs; the orphans have been cared for and placed in private homes or schools, or, if need be, provided with books and clothing.
The Woman's Relief Corps co-operates with the Grand Army of the Republic in patriotic teaching, in humane instruction, and in the precepts of peace and arbitration. They make a special effort to promote the observance of June 14, the birthday of our flag, and also to induce all the schools to provide a flag. So far as is known no school is now without one. The corps is engaged also in patriotic teaching in the Philippine Islands, in Cuba and in Porto Rico. Memorial day is held sacred by the members as less a holiday and more a holy day. Withal, children are taught, not only to know and honor the dead, but to reverence the gray-haired veterans, who walk the streets with slow and faltering tread. Thus by associated effort, accompanied by active service in doing the lesser things day by day is made up the aggregate of the work of the members of the Relief Corps. In making the joys of others do they find their own.
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Oregon Grape

THE OREGON GRAPE
Type of the sturdy, invincible West, Lifting her head with the bravest and best, Grows the wild holly—our Oregon queen— Shining in raiment of gold and of green.
Brightly she blossoms and crowns our fair hills,
Bearing her beauty wherever God wills.
Emblem of statehood—her flowers unfold.
Loyal forever in green and in gold.
— Eunice W. Luckey
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Two Islands

"The Two Islands"
DR. THOMAS CONDON, the geologist, and the most noted man of science the Northwest can claim as her very own, has given to the world an invaluable contribution, "The Two Islands." This book, explicit in detail and so simple in construction that it is within the grasp of a child's mind, is yet so rich in scientific lore and so deep in research that a sage may peruse its pages with profit.
Dr. Condon is at home in this work, for the book is a recital of his own study of the field. In this Northwest, the home of "The Two Islands," he has faithfully labored for half a century. Digging deep into the earth, he has uncovered its story and opened its pages that all may read. Included in this exhaustless library is also a record of the vegetable and the animal kingdoms as they appeared in the different stages of the formation of the earth's crust.
Through explorations and excavations, he brought to light, in the John Day country in Eastern Oregon, fossil beds of vast extent and of inestimable value to science. He was first to find, near The Dalles, on the Columbia, a fossil of the earliest prehistoric horse. This little creature was but eighteen inches high. Now, although past 80 years of age. Dr. Condon still tells the interesting story of this land so rich in geological treasure.
Wherever The Souvenir goes it gladly bears this testimony to the work of our honored and beloved citizen, and happily calls the attention of its readers to his book, "The Two Islands."
M. O. D.
# The Souvenir of Western Women/The Portland Woman's Union

The Portland Woman's Union
By ELIZABETH STORY HAMILTON
THE Portland Woman's Union was established October 21, 1887, in view of opening and maintaining a boarding house for young, self- supporting women, where, at a moderate cost, they would have the comforts and protection afforded in a private home. For seventeen years a board of faithful women has successfully carried on the work. The boarding house is situated on a quarter block at the south-east corner of Fifteenth and Flanders streets. The house is fitly appointed for the purpose. There are two parlors, two pianos, a library well supplied with books, and many of the best periodicals, a sewing room, and a laundry, all of which are open to the boarders day and evening. They also have free access to the lawn, fruit and flowers.
The union being entirely out of debt, a brick addition to the house is contemplated. To promote the interests of women—always the central idea of the union—the scope of the work became broadened as soon as the boarding house was self-supporting. In 1896 the Woman's Exchange was established by the union, though only in a small way. For many years a case of fancy work in the corridor of the Hotel Portland seemed all that was advisable, but in November, 1903. an exchange in the true sense of the word was opened under the auspices of the Woman's Union, and the success has been gratifying. Many women have been materially helped thereby.
The members of the union realizing that incompetency is the primary cause of suffering in the case of untold numbers of women, to the degree that "destroyed for lack of knowledge" could be written truthfully over many of their failures, questioned how can we add our mite to train and mould these to more thorough competency. Surely no better way could be devised than through the kitchen garden and sewing school to direct the lives of the women of the future. Mindful of this, the kitchen garden, with its three-fold object—to rescue the child from idleness and ignorance; to make the homes better and brighter; to make competent helpers—was opened in connection with classes in sewing. This industrial school was successfully carried on for four years, until the building in which it was held was sold. No other room being available, the kitchen garden was temporarily closed. The sewing department of the school is now held at the boarding house, and much interest is manifested by the mothers and the children as well as the faithful instructors.
The Portland Woman's Union is glad to welcome strangers within its doors, and trust that they who find entertainment there may cherish a kindly remembrance of the home.
# The Threat to the Labor Movement/Section 18

The Fight Is on the Right to Strike.
IF, as stated previously, the real objective of the united front offensive of labor officialdom, socialist party bureaucracy, capitalists and the capitalist press, aimed now at the left wing, is not for the purpose of supplanting militant struggle by the worker-employer co-operation policy and against the right to strike, why is the drive being made in precisely those unions which have not succumbed entirely to paralysis as a result of having this pol:icy of "efficiency unionism" foisted upon them—cloakmakers and furriers?
The burden of proving their superior loyalty to the workers and their superior understanding of the problems of the labor movement in this period of rising American capitalism rests upon the sponsors of the present campaign.
Nor only the New York Times but other powerful capitalist dailies which when the garment workers were struggling to build their unions, denounced them in much the same language as they use now in speaking of Communists, openly support the trade union officialdom. This is con​sciously for reasons which these sheets state frankly. The New York Evening Post says that the present reactionary campaign is:
. . . . one of the most hopeful events in the history of organized labor … THE WISEST LEADERS OF AMERICAN LABOR UNIONS ARE AWARE THAT THE VERY FOUNDATION STONE OF SUCCESS IS THAT THEIR AIMS AND METHODS SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICAN SPIRIT. AMERICAN WORKINGMEN ARE, FIRST OF ALL, AMERICANS WITH AMERICAN SPIRIT AND IDEALS. Some of their more important leaders, notably William Green … have taken pains to emphasize this fact. (Emphasis mine.)
So this is the old struggle for "100 percent Americanism" in a new form. It is interesting to note that in its defense of labor officialdom The Post manages to use the word "American" four times in two lines. In addition to being "the wisest leaders" the official elements are patriots of the purest type in the estimation of the capitalist spokesmen. The Post continues:
The local unions are to be congratulated upon their resolve to assume the aggressive against Communism within their ranks. When Communists, or other groups attempt to manipulate American labor organizations for political ends, there is only one course to take—open war.
No group of persons in this country can make it hotter for the Communists than the labor organizations. IF THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS GO INTO FIGHT WITH THE SPIRIT THEIR LEADERS ARE DISPLAYING, the battle will be over almost before it has begun.
But there is one drawback. It is that "the local organizations", that is, the workers, are not following "their leaders" in this fight.
# The Threat to the Labor Movement/Section 2

Role of Right Wing in the Strike.
THE strike was nominally a joint effort of both the right and left wings of the union, but was actually conducted by the left wing leadership of the New York Joint Board in the face of sabotage from the right wing elements in New York and from the international officials of the union ​headed by Presirlent Sigman. The right wing was insistent on the acceptance of the findings of the commission appointed by Governor Smith—in other words, it was in favor of compulsory arbitration under the auspices of the state government controlled by Tammany Hall.
The stubborn attitude of both the manufacturers and the jobbers, who put up the fiercest resistance in the history of needle trades struggles, is a result of their knowledge that they had powerful allies inside of the union—the right wing leadership. The attacks of the bosses upon the left wing is proof of this.
Even if we give such factors as the long period of unemployment which preceded the strike and the tremendous profits which the American capitalist class has at its disposal for aiding its various sections in their conflicts with the workers, it still remains true that the greatest weaknes of the union was the treacherous character of the right wing activities.
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers' officialdom; in contrast to its previous unstinted aid in I. L. G. W. strikes, gave a paltry $25,000 to a strike which has cost about $100,000 per week.
# The Threat to the Labor Movement/Section 20

The Role of the Socialist Party Officialdom.
IN giving the whole conspiracy against militant trade unionism a "spirtual" character the socialist press and bureaucracy has a special role to play. It is being played, not very wisely, but certainly with an enthusiasm which only the smell of the fleshpots in the upper circles of labor officialdom can evoke in the breasts of the high priests of a party whose chief leader, Morris Hillquit, is numbered among the wealthy elite of Riverside Drive.
The socialist party leadership has found its niche at last. It is that of flunkeying to the flunkies of American imperialism in the labor movement.
For some time, beginning exactly at the moment when the American Federation of Labor officialdom discovered that the only real opposition to American entry into the war came from the left wing of the socialist party which made up the great majority of the Communist Party later, there has been an approach on the part of the socialist bureaucracy and the ruling group of the A. F. of L.
It was marked first by the cessation of opposition by socialist party members, who were at the same time officials of needle trades unions, to the A. F. of L. machine. Opposition candidates of the socialist type, backed by the needle trades and Jewish trade union bloc, were no longer nominated in A. F. of L. conventions.
Then came the expulsion policy against militant unionists in which socialist or former socialist union officials joined heartily and, as in the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, took the initiative. The Amalgamated Clothing Workers' officials, to which anything savoring of A. F. of L.ism had been anathema hitherto, also instituted the expulsion policy.
# The Threat to the Labor Movement/Section 21

Further Steps Toward Unity of Reaction.
WHEN the demand for recognition of Soviet Russia became an issue in the labor movement, A. F. of L. officialdom found its most valuable allies in two places—among socialist trade union leaders and among the hard-boiled section of the capitalist class. It was socialist union officials who mouthed the most outrageous slanders of Soviet Russia and its workers' and peasants' government.
This united front of trade union and socialist reaction knit very closely the bond between the two.
The socialists, in their attack on the left wing, at first got only sympathetic. suport from the A. F. of L. officials. Without something more than this their attack resulted in a miserable failure, as in the struggle most in the New York section of the union in 1925. The A. F. of L. gave little if any organizational support to President Sigman and his henchmen on the joint board.
The struggle ended with the defeat of the socialist party leadership (in which can be included all the elements supported by the Daily ​Forward, whether actually members of the socialist party or not).
Then came the struggle in the furriers' union, which, likewise, ended in defeat of the Forward elements.
In both of these struggles the basic issue was worker-employer co-operation versus a policy of struggle, the abolition of gangsterism in the unions which had throttled all rank and file expression, and amalgamation of all unions in the industry.
There had been a number of struggles in the Amalgamated, but in this union the issues were less clear because of the split between President Hillman and the Forward gang, and the left wing never attained the strength it has in the other needle trade unions.
# The Threat to the Labor Movement/Section 22

The Rise of the Needle Trades Left Wing.
BUT the failure of the right wing to crush the rank and file opposition in the furriers and the I. L. G. W., together with the knowledge that amalgamation was becoming a popular mass issue which would soon force something more than platonic expressions of endorsement, with the further certainty that the A. C. W. officialdom would be unable to dominate any amalgamated block because of the preponderance of left wing leadership, undoubtedly prompted the Hillman machine to enter into a truce with the Forward and an alliance with A. F. of L. officialdom and officialdom in other needle trades and Jewish unions against the left wing.
Hillman now proposes amalgamation with the I. L. G. W.—but without the left wing.
The failure to arouse any real enthusiasm among the A. C. W. membership for the new 2-year New York agreement (it was voted for by only something like 10 per cent of the membership, according to statements of members present at the meetings) made the possibility of a rapid development of the left wing in the A. C. W. possible and a united offensive against the left wing in the labor movement desirable—especially in the needle trades.
The offensive has been launched. Socialist party and A. F. of L. officialdom are fighting side by side, as has been shown previously.