The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17
FLIES IN THE OINTMENT.

still reverberating in various parts of the
country. The delegates, having finished the
sightseeing tour that most of them in
dulged in after the convention, have re-
turned to their homes and are talking
now" at a great rate. Some of the talk
gets into print and from it various deduc-
lions may be made. There is a general
agreement that as a social and spectacular
event the convention was all that could be
desired The character of the reception and
treatment of the visitors by Denver women
excites unqualified praise; the elegance of
the costumes worn is matter for admiring
comment, while the ability and graciousness
of the presiding officer are highly compli-
mented. In fact, there is general tendency
to gush over these features Of the gath
ering, but it also develops that with the
pleasing incidents there was a decided min
Cling of shadow. In the first place, there
was the dissatisfaction Of the New England
element over the defeat of Mrs. Breed, the
Eastern candidate for the presidency of the
federation. The Massachusetts delegates
have no hesitation in laying the blame for
the defeat on Mrs. Henrotin, the outgoing
president, whom they charge with deceit
and double-dealing. These same women.
who evidently having an experience of
"slick'' politics for the first time, are also
aggrieved by the election of Mrs. Henrotin
as honorary president" holding that, with
her aggressive and insinuating ways, she
will hamper the proceedings of the regular
president and be constantly in the fore
ground.
From another direction comes a complaint
that the papers read at the meetings of the
convention to which the public was invited
were Of decidedly inferior character. AS
one writer says, with unconscious humor:
'"These papers would be well enough to read
before woman's club, but were not i'm
portant enough to read before such body"
Notwithstanding the admiration expressed
for the handsome costumes worn this Eek
IRENE dressiness on the part of the ladies
comes in for a share of criticism. 1.-THE
question is says one writer, ''how can the
federation be kept democratic and repre-
sentative of the best thought Of woman If
clothes are going to play such an important
part?' Some objection is being raised, too,
to the system of taxation adopted. 1t is not,
apparently, that the critics object to paying
the small individual assessment, but they
have figured out that a large sum will be
realized and is needed to carry on these BIZ
ennial meetings. and are beginning to ask
If the meetings are worth the cost; if, in
fact the separate clubs composing the
body get any good whatever out of the
federation. That the delegates have de-
lightful time is acknowledged on all sides,
but a doubt is arising as to whether or not
this is a sufficient reason for keeping the
great organization in existence. In other
words, thoughtful women among those who
compose the federation are seriously ask
ing what it is all about. This is symptom
of disintegration. If the central principle or
purpose of an organization is not clear to
the comprehension of it's members, some
thing is fundamentally wrong. Such a body
lacks adhesive power and the elements of
permanency. That other great body of wom-
en-. the Christian Temperance Union, has
central idea which, SO far, has held it to-
gether. 1t organized to promote the cause
of temperance, and though it has taken up
long list of other reforms and has so scat
tered its forces that temperance seems but
a minor issue in these days, its original plan
is still its chief strength. The great major
ity of clubs composing the federation are
so-called literary clubs, classes, whose
original and only purpose is that of the in
tellectual Improvement and entertainment
Of their members. Just how much this pur-
pose is furthered by becoming part of a
great organization which meets every two
years is a matter that needs more elucida-
ton than it has yet received. AS for the
benevolent and other societies that form
part of the federation, they are connected
with national bodies of their own kind
through which they can probably accom-
plish more than through a society having
multifarious interests. Already the I'M
wieldy character of the federation is real
lied, as was shown by the reducing of the
number of delegates to be accepted here
after Up to this year the comments of club
women on the federation have been almost
entirely eulogistic but now that they have
assumed questioning and critical attitude
the real value and importance of the. organ
ization will be decided, and the next bien-
NAL meeting will prove whether or not it is
to continue in existence