Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-09-21

I am in New York organizing a
branch of the Woman's Industrial and
Patriotic League, which will have it's
exhibit at Washington and will be in
the nature of a permanent exhibit. Our
idea is to secure a sufficiently large plot
of ground in the city Of Washington on
which to erect buildings which we hope
to have supported by annual appro-
priatiOns of the Legislatures of the va
riOuS States.
Our object is to encourage women
who possess inventive genius, talent
and industry, and are endowed with a
desire to better their surroundings and
elevate their industries. All women
are dependent on each other. All can
not be dOmestics or professional or pos
sess educational qualifications, but all
can cooperate in the elevation of Wo-
man. To afford them an opportunity to
assert their independence against GUS
toms and determinations practiced in
the past, and to allow them facilities
to display their inventive and artistic
genius, talent and industry, was the
grand motive that actuated me in orig
mating and commencing this work.
We have received offers from we'll
known persons in Washington of land
of sufficient size to contain the build
ings. G.. A. Armes, 1905 F Street, N.
w, writes:
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, President WO-
mans National Industrial Exhibit.
Dear Madam:-F'rOm what [ so far
understand of your enterprise, it ought
to meet the approval of every Wash
ingtonian, and others who have the in
terest and welfare Of the exhibit at
heart
eff you decide to establish a perma-
nent building vii. agree to donate 10,
900 feet of ground for that purpose, and
reserve for one year $4,000 feet in order
that, if you desire to extend your build
ing, you can have more ground added
at whatever compensation can be
agreed upon. If there is anything you
can think of that [ can do to aid you,
command me. Yours truly,
&c. A. ARMIES
This is only one of many letters
which we have received.
Here is another:
Dear Madam:-In reply to your let
ter of recent date in regard to the pro
posed Woman's National Industrial
Exhibit. to be held in this city, in May,
1900, 1 desire to say that I cheerfully
and heartily endorse the exhibit, and
enroll my name among those who have
given the exhibit their aid and good
wishes.
81 am familiar with your work to eIe-
vate and advance women, and for
twenty years [ have sympathized with
your endeavOrs in their behalf.
'Appreciating what you have done
for them and humanity, | number my
self among the friends Of the exhibit
and endorse the enterprise, not only
with my name and good wishes, but
to help to perfect the exhibit, I will
contribute the sum of $1,000, which is
subject to your draft. Wishing you
success, I en- truly yours,
ct E. ROESSLE."
We hope 20 have the exhibit opened
by the first of May, although this is
very early for a work of such magni-
tude. I am in New York now, at the
Waldorf-Astoria, holding meetings for
the purpose of interesting women on
this subject, which must be of first
Importance to every woman.
1 commenced this work alone more
than year ago, and have paid all the
incidental expenses from my private
means. [ have correspOnded with our
National Legislators and prominent
men and women throughout the coun-
try, receiving favorable responses, as
| the letters published show. I have in
Nitcd foreign governments to notify and
invite the women Of their respective
countries to cooperate in this exhibit.
1 have also contributed the sum of
$4,000 as a nucleus With which to build
up this exhibit. I have paid for the
preparation of letters, circulars, liter
allure, clerical work, office rent and the
! postage incident to sending out the
same, for the purpose of arOusing pub
lie opinion in regard to the exhibit, and
it affords me qualification to know that
I will be associated with the most