The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-02
CLUB WOMEN FOR WAR
They Bid President Mckinley
Strike For Cuba.
SPANISH SPIRIT RISES
People Said TO be Fairly Un-
loading Their Gold.

Washington. April 1.-The club women
of the country. a quarter of a million
strong, today expressed themselves re-
garding Cuba in a letter written to Pres
1dent Mckinley by Mrs. Ellen NJ Henro-
ten of Chicago. president of the General
Federation of Women's clubs. The letter
follows:
Chicago, April l. 1898. Mr.. President
The General Federation of Women's clubs
is an organization which embraces
twenty-nine state federations Of women's
clubs which number in membership 1,S23
clubs; an dover 500 other clubs are also
united in the membership of the General
Federation. The individual membership
of these clubs varies from twenty-five to
1000 women. The largest state fedora ton
of individuals is that of New York with
q, 900 women as members. Massachusetts
and Illinois rank next, the former with
1900, the latter with 1900 Ohio has
about 1000 women members of the state
federation. 1t is estimated that the Gen
eral Federation has over $50 900 women in
membership.
1.-THE members Of the General Fedora
tion would condemn war which was
undertaken for aggrandizement or for ter
ritorlal acquisition. as the federation is
Founded on the principal Of fraternity and
reciprocity: but its members recognize the
fact that this nation, in the vanguard of
all republics. must stand alone for the
cause Of humanity. for the cause of the
4La ,-icr
as against the mighty. We feel that you
represent this cause. Therefore. as a fed
Grafton, we tender you our sympathy and
express to you our confidence in your wis
dom and your devotion to the highest
good Of this dear country of ours.
while most Of the members Of the
federation represent no vote on subjects
of national politics. we do represent great
influence. On US war viii fall the heav-
iest, for we must give our sons and must
during and after the war help TO repair
the ravages and losses, and mitigate the
suffering which such a terrible event must
inevitably bring in its train. Therefore,
we have the best right 10 an expression
of our opinion. We pledge you that while
1t is a question Of humanity you may
ganization.
81 am with sentiments of the highest
consideration, truly yours,
ELLEN NJ. HENROTIN,
F'President of the General Federation Of
Womens Clubs.
the president Of the United States"
Acago, April lin an interview re-
ag the letter, Mrs. Henrotin said:
ne industrial position of the Ameri-
woman was greatly Influenced by the
cent civil war. Thousands of women,
10Th in the north and in the south were
forced into the labor market through the
death of father or brother, husband or
son. This was especially the case in the
south. The loss in ideality to nation is
very great by a war. General Walker has
said to me that he considered the present
overweening commercial spirit of this
country due to the fact that so many men
of the ideal persisted in the war both
north and south, leaving the mechanically
minded or business minded men in the
ascendant. The race also suffers physi-
cally, as the army takes not the lame nor
the blind nor the delicate son, but the
strong. well developed man.
For those reasons, women are vitality
interested in peace and its attendant
train of blessings. But they are even
more interested in unfolding the cause Of
humanity, before all commercial consid-
erations. The American people have been
very patient with the Cuban question, but
they are put in the position of being
obliged to interfere to feed the hungry.
rloth the naked and heal the sick. And
1t is folly to longer deny the responsible
tty Of the United States for the condition
Of the unhappy island so near our shores.
''The policy of the president, therefore,
especially eommends itself to such an or
ganization as ours. His firmness. his pa
tience and his humanity represent the
highest craftsmanship and in rendering o
him the sympathy and endorsement of the
General Federation OF Women's clubs. we
thereby express our purpose to give him
our moral support in all that he does or
leaves undone for humanity's sake"