The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-27
THE new WOMAN KICKS
Protests Against Taking
the Clubs Into Politics
How It Happened.
SDecidl to the Jerseu Gin Meas

NEWARK, March q, 1S9e.-When the
members of the New Jersey State Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs went to the State
House at Trenton last Friday to lave "a
literary day" they had no idea that the
atmosphere Of the State House would
have the effect of bringing them into poll
tlcs-in fact. SO opposed are member of
the organization to taking a stand in any
thing touching on politics that its con-
stitution plainly states that sclubs APP
plying for membership must show that
no sectarlan or political test is required
Today the club women are making ac-
tive inquiries concerning a dispatch from
Trenton that was published Wednesday.
which reads:-
The State Federation of Woman's
Clubs asked for the passage of the con-
stitutional amendment pending which
gives suffrage to women in the school
elections
When Mrs. Yardley. as State President,
was interviewed on the matter she de-
clared, that the statement was misleading
and threatened the policy OF the organi-
zation; are not a body Of suffrag4sts
Or podticlans, and no matter what the
personal opinions of the members may be
IN TINS matter these opinions cannol be
given through the voice of the fedora
rlon,a sne said, and she hoped that the
oihcers or the society made the same en-
phatac Statement.
AS to how this confusion arose it is
ter written by Mrs. Florence Howe Hail.
Wno Is Secretary Of the General Fedora
ton; Mrs. Hall sent this letter to Mrs.
Yardiey with the request that it be read
at the Trenton meeting, and it was read
by Secretary Mrs. Frank n, Smith. Tne
letter Is as follows:-
the members Of the New Jersey
Ladies and Fellow Club Members
regret very much that / cannot be with
you at Trenton, as the programme Will.
IT would give me great pleasure to meet
you all personally. AS chairman of cer-
respondence for the General Federation
ing biennial council at Louisville. At
some of you know. there is now pending
before the Legislature Of our State an
all women must feel an interest. since
its effect will be, if carried through, to
restore TO the women of our State the
cised. with beneficial results, for seven
years, prior to November, 1894. The Su-
preme Court then decided that some
stitutional. Last summer we presented
petitions signed by many influential per-
sons in our State, asking the Legislature
70 tfo1 pass rsst an sme n men, % She constitn,
school suffrage. The Legislature did so.
the vote in both Houses being practically
unanimous in our favor.
THE amendment must. according to
law, be passed a second time, namely by
the present Legislature, and voted upon
by the people next November, in order
to become a law. As we are asking for
no new rights or privileges, but only for
those which have been thoroughly tried
in our own and other States, and hav.
been found to be beneficial to the cause
of education. / hope very strongly that
the New Jersey State Federation of
Women's Clubs will, by a unanimous
vote, express their sympathy with this
measure, and thus assist materially in
carrying it through the Legislature. To
a body of women SO Intelligent, it surely
needs no argument to prove that women.
and especially mothers, should nave a
voice in the education of Their children.
.Respectfully submitted BY
sFLORBNCE HOWE HALL"
ried That the society express its sym
declare that that was all the letter called
for and they in no way intended to senu
or allow to be sem, a message to the
Legislature. They merely agreed to the
tone of Mrs. Halls communication, as
they hoped to sympathize with such
measures as would help to advance the
cause of humanity, providing that ex-
preston of opinion would In no way lead
or mislead them into touching suffrage
or politics in any way. Many of the club
women are ardent suffragists, while 9TH
ers are directly opposed to the woman's
rights issue.