The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-14
WOMEN DISCUSS THE SEX.
The Society for Political Study Talks
About Rescue Work


New York, Nov. 1.-THE Society for
Political Study met Saturday in its new
home in Genealogical nall, 226 West
Fifty-eighth street. Mrs. T. st. John
Gaffney presided, and an uncOmmOnly
large number of members and guests
were present. Mrs. Hettie w. Graham
was the speaker of the day. Her sub
ject was City Charities" Mrs. Gra-
ham had visited every city charitable
institution of any note and she gave
hard facts, punctuated with many
commOn-sense conclusions. She praised
discriminatory and criticised discreetly
Mrs. Gaffney asked Mrs. George HOwes
to take the chair during the general dis
cussiOn which followed the reading of
Mrs. Graham's paper.
The Rev. Phebe Hanaford set the ball
in motion. After saying that Mrs. era
hams paper was about the best ever
listened to by the society she concluded;
4 have this to say personally. The
women of this city, through their taxes,
are largely supporting our city chart
ties; other contribute money and still
others work, but until we women have
the ballot in our hands. sisters. we shall
not be able to do all we can to improve
our charities"
Enthusiastic applause was accorded
this sentiment, but Mrs. Fender jump
ed to her feet and said: "AIl the same
women can do a great deal without the
ballot. In reference to the 10 cents a
day which is allowed for each inmate
on BiackwelIs Island I wish to say that
three years ago, through the good sense
of Mayor Strong, the WOman's Health
Protective association had the amount
increased to that sum from 8 cents a
day"
And I'd like to say in reference to
the proposed State Training school for
Wayward girls, which was brought be-
fore the State Federation and mention
ed here put in Mrs. AImon Hensley,
that this school is the idea of Mrs.
Jennie June Croly. She has gone to
h11f n q TsTia or
out by Mrs. Clarence Burns. When I
was at BlackwelI's Island last Saturday
with the State Federation delegates the
physician in the maternity ward said
of his own accord: L wish you ladies
would do something for these girls when
they leave here In a year, or perhaps a
they need Is help when they leave
here"
"That might be DONE" said DR.. Ellen
E. Miles, emphasizing every word, 'as
was done by a lady here in New York.
She found a girl on the street with
baby nine days old. She adopted the
baby and mother, taking them into her
home and caring for them. Not long
ago she adopted another baby, same
mother Who knows but before long
she'll have a third on her hands"
Most of the women were plainly indig-
nant over DR.. Miles view of the case,
and Mrs. Fender FASTENED to say: IF
some girls should have ten babies, it is
worth while to help all to save one"
I'd nate TO Lnlnk UnaL we cOQlO not
save these girls agreed Mrs. HenSley,
land turn them into right-mfnded wo-
men. It IS wrong to say that q girl of
IA, who has become mother, is bad.
I'm sure they can be reform ed
1--WE a. cousin IN Philadelphia who
has been manager of an institute for
such girls" said Mrs. Anna M Jackson,
land she says that not some but all of
them reform"
Mrs. John H. P1att, manager Of the
Home for the F'riendless in New Haven,
said: We've taken in many, very
many, unfortunate girls IN the last 10
years and there have been only four
cases of disgrace"
This started Mrs. Hanaford, who, with
DR.. Miles, had charge of the New Ha-
ven home years ago. She told a story
of an unfortunate girl who'd been saw
ed and converted at this institution and
of her happy marriage later and her
exemplary life as a wife and mother
But said DR.. Miles in a. loud voice
trembling with eaTnestness, do you
know of any other girl who was ever
saved2"
Absolute silence followed her Ques-
ton
Finally, when things were growing a
trifie uncomfortable, Mrs. Bates re-
marked: ''I think one of the Wisest
things that DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes
ever said was: If we want to reform
a man we must begin with his grand
father and that certainly applies to
women, too For my part, / think If
there were fewer charitable institutions
there would be fewer prisoners, fewer
accidental mothers, as somebody here
called them. Let fathers go, and let
US educate mothers. Mothers need to be
educated. If mothers would talk plain
common sense to their daughters there
would be no necessity for the very ex-
cellent paper we've heard on chart
ties"
''Fathers ought to cooperate with
mothers asserted Mrs. Eensley. ct re-
alize that what we want is a more in
teTlfqent motherhood, but we want a
more intelligent fatherhood along with
you've all prodded me because I've
been lenient to men," concluded Mrs.
Bates. Il don't expect much of men.
II q man keeps himself out Of jail and