The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-12
Importnn, Suggestions.


Shall the individual clubs continue, In
the future. to pay SO biennia dues. or
shall clubs pay a tax of 10 cents per
capita, except those having a member
ship of less than SO, will be one of the
important questions up for considera-
tion at the Denver biennial. 1t is also
suggested that state declarations shall
pay. annually. at the rate Of 25 cents per
club. In fact, il is believed that the
business of the general federation can
be conducted to a better advantage IL
all dues are required annually. Should
these suggestions take the form OF
amendments TO the constitution n by
laws and be carried, the income of the
federation would be greatly increased.
Heretofore a part of the running ex-
penses Inc the expenses of the ennial
have been met by individual club men,
bers. Not a single officer draws a sal
airy. If the principles Of the general
federation stand for Individual worth as
against wealth alone. is IL fair that the
laws should be such that only those wo-
men who have a sufficiently abundant
purse to meet the expenses Of the Of
fees are eligible to the elective honors
of the organization?
On the other hand II Is asserted that
the proposed changes would result IN
large individual clubs and the state
declarations being burdened by ex-
penses, especially the latter. since they
are at considerable expense. when they
hold their annual meetings. for speakers
and often music. However his matter
may be settled all right-minded people
will agree that the general federation
ought to be self-supporting, and not
hampered in carrying out its great work
by favors shown 1t. All organizations
as well as individuals lose their inde-
pendence when too willing to accept ia
vors.
Another question which may possibly
| come up is in regard to representation
from the clubs at the biennial meetings.
| Would II be better to do away with the
representation from individual clubs d.
rect and let the representation be from
the state declarations only? At present
each federated club Is entitled to two
delegates. and each state federation to
i've at the biennials. II b claimed h
the phenomenal growth of the general
federation has mad the biennial meet
ings so large and unwieldy that the
business meetings are not always order
ly and businesslike as they should be.
II the representation Is through the
state federation only. the individual
clubs will completely lose their identity.
To be sure, many of the clubwomen hnd
It impossible to attend h biennial meet
ings, but there In satisfaction in Know
ing that ones own club may be heard
from at these great conventions. Some
say that the general declarations should
be to The clubs as the nj n to the
people Of the United States. the state
federation representing h individual
clubs. Why not make the scheme even
grander, letting the general federation
be to the lub what the United States
II to the people. each state federation
being represented as in the senate and
the individual clubs as in the house of
representatives. To avoid the clumsy
meetings at the biennial. the delegates
the might be divided into two bodies
for business purposes. the delegates
from the state declarations discussing
/, and passing upon matters relating to
their own organizations, the delegates
from the individual clubs doing the same
for their body.
Any law which would lessen the su-
premacy and strength OF the general
federation would be a mistake. II the
individual clubs are represented through
the state declarations only. there would
be no object In holding direct member
ship in the general. 1t n q question
mainly Of general and state rights and
we venture to say II the latter Ii pushed
up At the expense of the former there
VIII be a lively rebellion in club ranks
Every delegate at the biennial has &
right to enter the discussion OF These
matters: both sides should be carefully
weighed and arguments for the favored
side be thought out before the conve
ton. One of our best known club edi-