Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-05
WOMAN AND THE WEST.
Her Work and Opportunities Discussed by
Mrs. Fannie Barrier Williams.

/ Her Work and Opportunities Discussed by
Mrs. Fannie Barrier Williams.
Mrs Fannie Barrier Williams OF Chicago ad-
dressed the Bethel Literary Association Tues
day evening at the 18th street Presbyterian
. Church on The Opportunities of Western
Women" Mrs. Williams 10 a prominent men,
Der of the woman's Alliance, leading organi-
ration in reformstory matters at her home, and
she is also connected in u representative ca
pacity With the art depar ,ment Of the Columbian
exposition In the course Of her introduction
4 the speaker said tina. "Womsn's influence in
literature IL not now half so interesting and
significant as woman's influence sociology.
Her active presence in all the activities of life
is giving meaning to old truths and no
meaning TO MANY old theories. Every senti-
ment concerning women has changed in the
L.,st fl.ty years aud changed for the better The
-taid old opinions concerning her place in life
have been liberalized and made more respect
ful. The patrunizing discussions of woman's
rights are gradually Welding to unconscious
Acknowledgement of the unquestioned privileges
that she enjoys. The men and women who at
one time talked confidently about woman's
inherent weaknesses "a arguments conclusive
against her claims to equality with men have
begun 20 recognize that strength may differ in
kind n web "a degree, and that the character
AMI strength of women in human society may be
qnite Efficient and necessary to the COM
pletencss of the social state the strength of
men.
The rising power of woman in all practical
affairs suggests how much the world has lost
in using only half its strength. With woman
in full possession of all her Inherent rights Of
sslf-assertion the world becomes double handed
in graphing with those harnssing problems
that have 70 far resisted happy solution"
WOMEN IN THE WEST.
After making a few observations on the DOM
irant forces that characterize western life and
calling attention to the phenomenal rise and
growth of the great cities and colossal business
enterprises west of the Alleghanies Mrs. Will
iams declared that "IndustrIaism in the west
has philosophic tinge OF meaning and respect
ability OF recognition that il does lot have in
the east. In the industrial department OF
western life woman Is a decided factor not only
in the largeness of her employment IN passive
but in her active interest and assertion on the
thought side of every debatabie question.
From no occupation where any kind of intelli-
gence or skill Is required is she absent in this
western world of opportunities. She not only
supplements the men in every occupation as an
employe. but in numerous notable cases
proprietors and employers of vast interest
I'm all the tests of woman's endurance and
capacity for work women have had no fear of the
stern maxim OF evolution, survival of the
tittest. She has not only survived, but she has
been triumphant in the fact that she has adj
vancei from indefinite trials and experiments
to a definite place in public confidence in her
ability to meet every possible requirement and
responsibility of citizenship equality.
"Woman's opportunities are best seen in the
quleter pursuits of industrial interests. The
fact that her work enters into fully SO per cent
of everything that ia manufactured and pro-
duced out west il of such vast significance th,t
it may be said to affect everything The
noInic questions of supply and demand. capital
and labor. corporations, wages and wealth are
affected more or less decidedly by woman's in
creasing contributions to the forces of inteii-
geuee. labor and wealth. Many of these puz-
zlIng inequalities that have become so hardened
into public necessities and customs are becom-
ing more and more within the range of
equitable adjustment since woman's work be-
came such a large part OF the productive forces
of our country.
at is not too much to saw that women are the
life of every sort of school and means of educa-
ton In the west. Indeed we think it may be
safely said that everywhere the girls are being
educated more than the boys. They not only
outnumber the male students. but they are
more ambitious in scholarship and seldom
leave an institution without diploma or
other evidence of merit. The most eager
students in scientific, technical and profess
sional institutions and in the university extern
sion courses are young women Nearly every
state in the west has recognized the growing
by extending to her the right of suffrage in
every question relating to public schools. =
There il something especially virile and
forcibly practical in the intelligence Of western
women. Az journalists. publishers. reporters
on daily and weekly papers her ability is OF
high order and her success remarkable. In all
the great reformatory movements out west
women conspicuous leaders of thought.
The distinguishing feature of orr women's
organizations In the west is the humane spirit.
r,v.4i Or
hence and influence Is inspired by a motive
TO help society to correct its evils and to pre-
vent its menacing dangers. The cSld-blooded
requirements Of business and commerce that
are controlling in all the larger efforts Of
men are being more or less qualified by the de-
mands of justice and humane. considera IONS
urged and made prominent by womens organ
izations. The redemptive power of woman's
influence in all the evil tendencies of American
life is admittedly the greatest hope Of our
times and it is nowhere felt more emphatically
than in the west
THE ". C. 7. L.
Referring TO the work of the woman's
Christian Temperance Union and its great
temple in Chicago the speaker said:
Whatever may be this tide and ebb Of public
sentiment on the liquor question, the ". c. T.
L. is the one constant force Of faith and protest
against the sin Of inebriety 1T has gathered up
INC rtllsiOIH(0Ellsc OF American WOmanAOOt
for God, hodlgDn native land. 1t has written
the SCARLET ID pOf condemnation on the breast
ofpsery saloon as the arch fend of American
homes. The Monroe doctrine in our diplomacy
Is IA kim less contaBt and valuable for national
pfet1Dtion than the white souled maxim of low
Atty to God, home and native land written into
Che heart OF America by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union.
Mrs. Williams treatment of the question of
the present governments of the great munich
palities vigorous. As to the willingness
ability capacity Of men to remedy such evils
rs exist IN the management of local affairs her
voice was one of despair 1t was her opinion
that it was mot too much to SAY that men I'M
assisted by women miserable failures in
municipal government" She paid high tri-
butte to the effective work of the Illinois
Womans Alliance in rlghting wrongs. correcting
abuses and the forcing of officials to u complete
and full performance OF their duties. Speak
ing OF the aims of the alliance Mrs. Williams
said Il believe that this organization has no
counterpart IN any eastern city. 1t in no way
resembles a club of leisure women who engage
in reform work a fad. They mostly
women of family and business and are not dis
tinguished BY wealth social position. The
alliance giyes no receptions charity balls. II
takes no vacations. It's season for work il from
january to january. Its motto is never lost
sight of, FOR II is: Loyalty to Women and JUS
tlce to Children" The unfailing motive of all