The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-03
A LOST OPPORTUNITY.


for two weeks, and, judging by the linn
tied amount of attention paid them by
the press and the indifference of the
public to their proceedings, their talk
has created less impression than on any
former occasion of the kind. When the
National and international Councils of
Women met in convention in Washing
ton, few years ago, the gathering was
unique and attracted notice for it's nov
city. The talents and ability of individ-
uals composing it were recognized, and
curiosity was felt as to what they might
accomplish by united effort. The pur-
poses Of the council were not made en-
tirely clear to the general comprehen-
sion, but it was felt that so many
women of character and varied abilities
might be able, through concentration of
forces, to do effective work in almost
any line of effort they should elect to
follow A similar and even greater in
terest was aroused by the woman's con-
gress at the worlds fair. Women who
represented, respectively, many lines of
thought and endeavon women engaged
in business, in professional work, in all
departments of philanthropy, in social
and moral reforms, practical women and
theorists assembled together and dis
cussed with great ability the several
phases of life and the movements in
which they were most interested. 1t
was all conceded by public which de-
clines to concern itself with common
place thingsz,to DE most -edifying. The
same women have met again and have
again discoursed of all the affairs I'M
der the heavens in which any Of them
are interested. This time the people
who look on are not so deeply impressed.
They begin to ask what it is all to
amount to- Trey read the statement
of the president, who says that one OBJ
ject of the convention is to give the
advocates of every opinion new audi
ence, to make converts and TO widen the
horizon of every organization represent
ed. ard wonder if this is really the case.
1t seems, rather, that each organization
is concerned only with its own affairs,
is Indifferent to the work of the others,
and that each recurring congress is
made uD of practically the same mem
bers The impression gains ground that
for a gathering which promises such
glowing results It "scatters' too muck
Nothing practical comes OF all its argu-
ments and eloquence for the reason. as
it seems that there is no united effort,
and that the arguments and eloquence
are spent upon such diverse interests.
Topics were discussed during the two
weeks on which at least majority OF
the speakers might have united, and in
which a vast number OF women outside
of any organization take measure OF
interest Municipal reform is surely
field for active work. and New York
women offered an object lesson which
might serve as a starting point for
wider effort in that direction. Patriotic
education is another movement which
might have received great impetus
Divorce reform is a subject in which
women, without regard to societies and
councils, are concerned. if not directly,
then as citizens having society's well
fare in mind. These or any one of half
a dozen other matters in the two weeks
programme afforded opportunity for the
council to do practical work and show
a reason for it's being; but no, the coun-
ell talked about these things and many
more-talked, and talked. and ended in
talk. POSSIBLY the lHHueIcc w lueSS
many streams of eloquence. may be far
reaching and show itself in active work
throughout a wide field. but this is not
the way such things operate as rule.
The benefits of an organization of or
CARNATIONS representing varied inter-
ests must be shown by concentration
of effort in some direction, else all the
arguments of the champions of such
union are wasted. To disDassionate OBJ
servers the National Council seems to
have lost an opportunity to prove it's
value.