The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-29
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WoMEN'S LEAGUES

The Possibility Or Power for Good IN wom-
sn's Organizations.
At recent meeting Of the Woman's
League Of New Orleans, Miss Kate
Mobiles spoke as follows:
"Why should there be . woman's
league? Why should there be concerted
action Of the already organized bodies Of
women?
In the city Of New Orleans there are
more than sixty associated bodies Of
women, with rolls recording from sew
enty-fve to three hundred names-it
would be safe to say force represent
ing at the least calculation 1900 won.
cn-good women, true women. from
every rank Of life. banded together for
pure helpfulness; and this outside
Of any church work. Of every denomina-
tion, working in harmony.
III It were possible in the short time
allotted to me this afternoon to give you
oven an outline Of the glimpse that has
come to me Of this power for good
amongst us, you would recognize more
fully, . have long since done, what IN
American philosopher meant when he
defined civilization as the power of
good women This power OF good wom-
en- Is being used in our midst in sixty
ncedful directions. Each group does Its
special work.
'.But there Is work to do. . work Of
civilization that no one group is strong
enough to accomplish. Where 200 or
800 voices are not loud enough to arouse
public attention, 1900 must needs DO
heard. This 10 the wherefore of the
Woman's League, that $4,000 women
may cry out 1t one time, may work to-
gether for one common end, and that
end civilization.
We live in an ago that places grave
responsibility upon intelligent woman
hood. We are not required to spin or to
weave. our grandmother's work. which
now mere machines has taken up
Higher duties are ours. We. who by
IN effort Of our own. by mere chance,
have been hedged in by strong moral
influences; we who have voices and
power OF speech. who are not MANNED
physically or mentally, we are, indeed,
the keepers OF our less fortunate sisters.
We are not guiltless when we do not
look to their welfare.
I'VE cry shame upon the woman who
deals out in corner shop tho liquor to
almost babes-cnpbearers to drunken
parents. We look on with horror. no
doubt, while the little ones stay their
steps, fitting the vessels to their lips,
planting the seed Of alcoholism Is IL
the ignorant bartender, with the brut-
ish instinct for mere gain, that Is to an
swer for this crying evil, on not only
, our own but the coming generation, or
you and and $4,000 other women who
do not como together and demand that
the already existing law forbidding the
sale Of Intoxicating drinks to minors be
enforced?
1T Is some years now since the mon
Of Louisiana passed laws making it pos
sible for women to occupy positions up
on our school board, and to have voice
In the cause Of education; also > law
imposing fine upon all employers who
did not provide women employees with
seats when not necessarily actively en-
ployed. Both onactments are dead let
ters. No special group OF women exist
ed whose business 1t was to see carried
out the good intention Of tho mon.
Hence the necessity Of the league.
| II might 60 on enumerating scores OF
needed reforms and aids to the commu.
nifty within our reach. but am not here
to tell you what we might do, but rathe,
20 review what We have done in the few
months OF our existence.
"A small group Of women whose
hearts had grown very sick with pity,
whose minds had grown tired, too, with
trying to think out the problem OF solv
ing how best to do away with the posi-
bility Of crime against poor degraded
womanhood detained in our station
houses, to save the remnant Of woman
nature from unnecessary brutilization
called together the 6rst meeting Of this
league. Every known organization
from the richest to the poorest was in
vited to confer together. After several
meetings. about twenty organizations
entered the federation.
'.The necessary work preliminary x
successful organization having taken
place, several evenings were devoted tt
becoming acquainted with the working.
Of the combined associations and theI
IN executive committee was appointed
It was fitting that the question tha'
suggested the league should be the frs
undertaken for solution. The result j.
we'll known to Us all. New Orlean.
now, like other large cities OF tho Unit
ed States, has matrons in 1T least three
Of the station-honses, and as in the 9th
or cities, placed there through the efforts
OF women to alleviate the condition o
Womankind. =.
Before closing, can not refrai1
from allnding to the possibility Q
power for good In the holding togethe
Of this body Of women. This Is an az
when brute force has given way to mini
force-when any thing is possible t
formulated thoughts. In this, at least, "
are mans equal, and the world has full,
come to recognize this fact by leaving
in our hands the adjustment Of SO mncl
Of its philanthropic, educational an
moral work."
Honor Among Women.