The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
TALK AND FINE CLOTHES
CONVENTION FEATURES OF FEEDER
ALTON OF WOMEN's CLUBS.
''Buxz Like Collection of Circular
with Smiles and Gay Gown.

DENVER, Col, June 22.--The most not
able gathering of women ever held In this
country. the fourth biennial convention of
the General Federation of Womens Clubs,
opened to-day in the Broadway Theater
with a buzz like collection of circular
saws. Two thousand animated women with
up-to-date clothes, covered with badges,
packed the great, auditorium and two bali
comics, and the unfortunates who came at
the eleventh hour stood in the rear and
even loitered in the Hobbies.
The president Mrs. Ellen Henrotin OF
Chicago, with beaming face and brilliant
gown, was the conspicuous figure on the
stage. Surrounding her were the officers or
the General Federation and the speakers OF
the entire convention, who were admitted
to these places Of honor by virtue of bright
red tickets. The colors of the federation.
white and pale blue, fiuttered from every
where. Great streamers hung from the dome
and connected at the top balcony with fes-
toons Of the stars and stripes The seats OF
various delegations were designated by satin
banners of gorgeous hue. The stage was
banked with palms and flags and at every
turn were evidences of the club woman pa
triot. This assemblage was strictly femi-
nine, from the tiny girls who served as
pages, TO the women physicians who were
on hand in case any speakers were old
fashioned 3enough 10 faint.
Promptly on time and in strictly parlia-
mentary} manner the convention opened
with storm of applause. With difficulty
the women We're reduced to silence where
upon an exasperated woman in the gallery
insisted that the sergeant-at-arms be
pressed into service. That squelched the
takers for time, but from time TO time
they would break out, which precipitated
Kisses from women who did not mean 10
miss single thing.
There was funny time in seating the
delegations. Some women not entitled to
seats managed to insinuate themselves into
the reserved sections, whereupon they were
spotted and turned out into the cold THIS
throng was induced to make up an over
flow meeting in Unity Church After invo-
cation by Rev. Celia Parker Woolley. OF
Chicago, addresses of welcome were given
by Alva Adams. Governor of Colorado; T.
NJ McMurray, mayor of Denver Mrs. NJ.
ID. Thatcher, president of the Colorado fed
GRAFTON, and Mrs. Sarah Pratt, president OF
the Denver Womans Club The response by
Mrs. Henrotin was wildly received. In a
touching and effective manner she ex-
pressed her appreciation of her reception,
These speeches were followed by inn
portant reports, including those of the local
Grant, of Denver; the committee cre-
edentialsl' by Mrs. William Fl. Kistler, Of
eral Federation, Mrs. C. p. Barnes, OF
Louisville; the corresponding secretary,
Mrs; Philip n Moore, of st. Louis. Follow
was given in honor of Mrs. Henrotin at the
residence of Mrs James Brown. the guests
including the speakers, the General FEEDER
alton officers and state presidents.
Club women with pleasure proclivitieS
broke up an important business session Of
the General Federation this afternoon. After
wrestling with the parliamentary tactics
until 4:30 o'clock, the hour set for a free
trolley ride, the WORKOUT delegates boted
in body. Notwithstanding heavy thun-
for Witches Gardens, where they were ten
dered a, reception by the North Side Wom-
ans Club, and incidentally ruined their
best bonnets
Prior to this unexpected procedure sew
eral important matters were considered.
chief of which was the curtailment of the
| delegates power, it being decided one dele
gate could cast the vote of only one club.
| AS many women came to represent several
clubs each this decision precipitated much
grumbling, particularly among delegates
from smaller towns empowered to cast sew
eral votes.
The report of the corresponding secretary,
Mrs. Philip Moore, of ST. Louis, was inter
esting The Federation now includes 595
clubs. with membership of $4,000. and
thirty state federations, made up Of 2,ll0
clubs. with membership of 10000. Taking
out duplicate memberships it leaves 10000
women in the country pledged to the motto
Unity in diversity" There is an honorary
membership of twenty-one. 1t was also
mentioned that the greatest success of state
declarations had been along the lines of edu-
cation. travelling libraries, art leagues. in
dustrial and manual training for women
The committee on credentials showed the
registration to be 5S4 delegates, or rs per
cent larger than the last biennial.