The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-07
Earnest Seekers for Purer Civic
Conditions Meet in
Council.
PLANS AND PROJECTS DRAWN.
The Magdalen Asylum to Be Visited
and Inspected-Reports of
Committees.

soul at yesterdays meeting of the Wo-
mems Federation. Gay bonnets. nodding
plumes, and rustling silk attire were
known but by their lack, save in the case Of
one dear creature who positively refused
to permit any mention Of her name or
costume in the dreadful newspapers.
However, in the little sky parlor in the
Young Mems Christian Association build
ing knot of women had gathered for a
noble purpose. What matter, though
their methods may have seemed unparlia-
mentary, unscientiic-in fact, essentially
womanHke-stil they had q noble end
in view: the reformation of the City's
morals, nothing more nor less.
Mrs. Patterson of the New Woman's
Club, Mrs. J. NJ. Peoples of the Womans
Cumberland Presbyterian Missionary
Union, Miss Cummings of the Northern
Women's Christian Temperance Union,
Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Dat
man of the Central Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, and a number of
other ladies prominent in church and
charitable work were present, and while
the attendance was not large, the meeting
was by no means lacking in interest.
Before any work was done the assem- bled
ladies were thrown into some consterna-
lLOll w Tie uliEtIdlQSU cuIIdIlCt OI d gen
tleman. He seemed harmless sort Of fell
low and introduced himself as reporter
from one OF the morning papers.
Il told the editors, remarked Mrs.
French from her perch in the presidential
chair, that l wanted none but lady re-
porters present at our meetings"
mutherly-looking lady moved that the
reporter be allowed to remain, and the
motion being seconded and put, was car
ried, though the chorus Of ayes was rather
feeble.
You may stay, SIR" said Mrs French,
in somewhat magisterial and by no
means cordial tone, Though had you not
been present the decision OF the ladies
might have been different"
The first action taken was the nominal
ton and election Of members for the
executive committee of the federation,
with the result that that body now con-
SlSts OF the following members: President,
Mrs. Rose NJ. French; ce-presidents,
Mesdames Louise A Sorbier and D. J.
Spencer; secretary. Mrs. j. Nj. Brown;
corresponding secretary, Mrs. E. NJ. n orth
treasurer, Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster; auxili-
aries, Miss Eva e. Bates, Mrs. II, II. Luce
and Mrs. J. NJ. Peoples.
Mrs. NJ. a. Nash, representing the Girls
Training-school and Home on Hill street,
was elected auditor, and Mrs. R. Patterson
and Mrs. \. B. Siddon were added to the
Police Court ana Prison committee, Mrs.
Patterson being further authorized to in
vestigate the labyrinthine precinc,s OF the
divorce courts for the purpose OF seeing
whether the federation would be justified
in organizing a special committee to deal
with matters coming up before these tri-
bunals.
Mrs. Harnish and Mrs. Nash were APP
pointed to investigate the sweating" svs-
TEN as it is said to be in vogue in some of
the larger business houses. 4 committee
was TO have been organized TO visit and
inspect the Magdalen Asylum, under the
chaperonage OF a wel!-known Catholic
society lady, but the measure was laid over
until the following meeting.
The Methodist deaconesS, H. Ida Ben
son, was added to the committee on dives
and Mrs. Harnish TO the press committee.
Mrs. NJ. ]. Payne was depuied TO in
vestigate the condition OF shopgirls and
confer with Commissioner Fitzgerald re-
garding the adoption OF measures for the
amelloratioa OF their condition. Miss
Cum mings also volunteered to attend a
meeting OF the Cleaners Club to ask in
formation in reference To the same matter.
Much discussion regarding indecent bill
boards and posters enlivened the session
at this stage. Mrs. Nash said she had
seen advertisements of plays posted over
every available SPACE of boarding and con-
sidered almost all of the posters indecent.
Mrs. French agreed with Mrs. Nash.
There have been," she remarked, "wo-
men of sufficient courage to walk up to
those nasty posters and tear them down,
ana. dear sisters, I'll tell you one thing:
those noble women were never pun
ished, though they were hauled up in
court. 1t must not be imagined, though,
that l recommend such vigorous measures
in practice"
Mrs. Peoples of the committee on Christ
mas letters reported that the CHEEKY mis-
\
drunkards at the City Prison, and had
been in every instance courteously re-
ceived. These letters were written by
ladies in this country and England, and
contained messages OF announcement and
consolation to the unknown recipients.
Mrs. French spoke with some warmth
and at considerable length upon the
recent North Beach scandal. She said the
aged reprohates involved had escaped verv
lightly, and she wished to enter a most
emphatic protest against what she consid-
cred fagrant miscarriage of Justice.
She also stated that woman was prowl-
ing about the City in most mysterious
and alarming fashion, erdeavorlng by
means of Establishments and threats to
coerce the mothers of the girls connected
with the affair into preventing their
daughters from testifying.
This woman" continued Mrs French.
lis trying to bring dscredit upon our
work by the most artful means. | fear
she may be suspected of being an emissary
from our federation, deputed by US to OBJ
pose and harass the police. In order to
correct this erroneous impression, il in
deed it exist, have asked the Chief of
Police to have the woman watched, and
her words, actions and appearance care
fully noted. l hope l have the feder-
atoms approval for my action
THE ladies would all approve your
course if they had seen the woman" was
Miss Cummings pithy reply.
ooh, dear! Did you see her?" "Oh.
my! What was she lke?" were a few
of the exclamations evoked by Miss Cum
mings' remark.
81 saw her." continued Miss Cummings
Sin little room off Judge Conlan's court
room. She was talking with three little
girls, woman and man, and said she
belonged TO the Associated Charities and
to the San Francisco Benevolent Society.
She mentioned Mr.. Beeching as one of
her friends. Then knew there must be
something crooked, for Mr.. Beeching was
dead and buried long ago. She talked
about you, too" said Miss Cummings, adj
dressing the president.
Talked about me?'' repeated Mrs.
French, excitedly; 'for goodness sake
what did she say?''