The age-herald., 1898-06-23
TECHNICS FROM
 CURRENT TOPICS

NAaeAe1tAOAA Denver on Monday afternoon demanding Increased taxation of individual and fed erated clubs, is significant and d!scourag- ing to all persons, male and female, who have expected that the organization of wo- men into active clubs, would necessarily result in far-reaehng good to all classes of citizens. Feminine organizations have passed the period of weakness and incom- pletion; they stand before the bar of pub lie opinion to be judged by the result of their undertakings. Their works speak for them they need other advocate to plead their righteous cause, and the most preiudced and cynical juror is about ready to render a verdict in their favor.
 An elastic horizon spreads out before the women's ciubs of America, and oppo- stion, like the vague, indefinite blue hills that limit the human vision on summers day recede and recede as men and women go forward into the future.
 With a broader comprehension of the power and influence of women's clubs and a proper appreciation of their field of en- deavor, the world is evidencing a kindly alarcity to accord them opportunity to ac- compish all possible and impossible good.
 Club women of the most conservative type are awakening to the full meaning of organized effort. They are beginning 10 realize that a club signifies more than an order in which they can enjoy the privl- lege of writing essays, and discussing pre- historic questions; that club worthy of consideration not only does these things in their season, but is prepared to enlist in any cause which has for it's object the betterment of human conditions. The highest and best opponents of feminine club l.fe are ready with hands, hearts and brains to do their rightful part towards the amelioration of the burdens and sorrows of their fellow creatures by the espousal of whatever stands for improvement of the environments of the human race.
 
 Now that so much has been accomplished by the unselfishness of American woman hood, the news of the disagreements at the biennial convention of the General Fed eration of Clubs at Denver comes with discouraging emphasis.
 It is disheartening that great organlza- tion has to be confronted so easily in US career, with rulings by its council which seem to sound the death knell to future ex- pectations. Money, in larger or smaller quantities, is essential to the conduct Of all forms of business, whether carried on ln- dividually or collectively, as every person of average intelligence knows, but the ex- tortionate demands advised Monday after noon at Denver, savor of unfortunate ana inconsiderate methods, which will in all probability result in serious injury to the federated club movement in this country. Each state federation bears its own eX- penses: each individual provides the nec- essary funds for it's own needs, and 1t is a surprising announcement that S4,5OO will be required for the expenses for the next two years of the general federation!
 The increase in the taxation of clubs seems to have aroused the old-fashioned American spirit in some of the delegates at Denver, and already several of the larg- est organizations are threatening to with draw if the ruling of the council becomes a law of the general federation organiza- tons as large as the Chicago Woman's club, would under this enactment, be compelled to pay into the general treasury bi-ennially one hundred and sixty dollars, instead of ten dollars, as heretofore
 This burdensome tax, taken in connec- ton with the other necessary expenses, will cause the womens S. clubs of the fu- ture to come entirely too high for the aver age woman, especially for the southern wo- man who rarely boasts of any surplus funds, after meeting the daily demands upon her exchecquer.
 To the women of this section this pro- posed increased taxation by the general federation means more than perhaps to those in other parts of the country. The fate of the federation, its growth influence and progress will be determined in a large masure by the action of the convention at Denver, upon this financial issue now being considered by the delegates. To Ala bama club women there appears to be need for a more economical and judicious management of the expenses of the general federation. The election of new general federation officers will doubtless prove very helpful and very encouraging to the future club prospects of American women, and it Is to be hoped that the next presi- dent will possess an amount of common sense and natural intelligence in some de- gree commensurate with her ambitions for prsonal notoriety. Mrs. Henrotn closes hear public club career as the advocate of a most unpopular financial club issue BALL.