New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-16

WOMEN'S WORK FOR WOMEN
MRS. MAY WRIGHT sEwELL GIVES HEX
VIEWS TO THE LONDON NEWS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE woMAN's lNIENNA-
rIoNAL COUNCIL SAYS SHE Is CONVINCED
BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF WOMEN IN
FOSTERING THE INTERNATIONAL IDEA
In an interview accorded representative OF
The London News" by Mrs. May wright seven
before leaving London for a ten days honuaS III
the Isle OF Wight and then for her nome III IN
dianapolis the following facts concerning tne past
present and future OF internationalism as seen
through the eyes OF American woman were OUT
lined
In reply 10 the question, How long exactly mas
the Woman's International Council, when mas ''s
origin in America. been in existence HIs.
sewen said: 1T is eleven years since we formed
our National Council and the first time II had
the rght 10 call itself international was IN l'S'
when the French National Council. known '"ei
as the 'solidarite des Femmes. gave IN us au-
hesion 10 the international idea. This was uuii'S
the Chicago Exhibition. when thirty-tWo repre-
sentatives from various foreign countries VIZ
present but as these countries had nor 'heh
formed National councils. the International Nouh-
ell idea could only be carried out at tnat 'irre oS
the Americans and the French.
The solidarite which in 1893 consisted OF thlf'y-
six organizations. collapsed shortly ai'er ''e
Chicago Exhibition. and since then they nave
been without the rallying ground Of Nauona'
Council: but we have great hopes that as al ou'
come Of our recent meeting. another VIII soo" "
formed The difficulty lies In this that N
the Conservative wing IS mostly phliahtlioii "
its aims and hardly be called temlnlsIe e"'
other wing is composed OF extreme Radicals 90
cialists and free thinkers. many OF them cIali'l"s
on social questions Individual liberty not cohceueu
by either Radicals or Conservatives In any cou"''''
II IL is found too difficult 70 amalsamAle me-
ests and Municipalities in 1870, two great ln'e'"a
tionsl Congresses OF Women will probably o. NJ
both recognized by Government. and the ledueIs
IN the preparstory work which they VIII oe cd4leu
upon to do for the Congresses there VIII % us
covered existing common interests resting oA
fundamental principles, on which poth s'ueS 'h''
unite -,
AT the close OF the Womens Congress in mi
oaeo The conservatives OF thirty-two different
countries who had been in attendance were IN
vited 10 a conference 10 consider the furtneI "OIh
Of the International Council and II Is 10 lId'
ing that may trace the influence WIN ~
since helped 10 form the various Na'io"ai -
ellis In 1895 Canada affiliated. Germany folo"eu
su- IN 1896 IN 1898 the National Union Of omen
Workers modified its constitution ana aHlIl@'7u
as the National Council for Great Britain anu
since then six other National COUNCILS nav -"
formed in different countries and have arnHa,eu
The difference between Vomans Couhci ai
anv other organization OF women. explained ME
seweu is essential and far reaching. Any other
organization has some specific outside OBJECT II
seeks 70 bring into membership only peoplyt 800
approve Of the attainment OF that opJect, "A cav
anv other organization must be paludl' ; a.u
only include fraction OF community MQrsSISi
any other organization Is composed OF Il ~
individuals as such but is made up or organ az,
tons or societies and the council neea no. mon
in fact generally is not aoIe no, he attain
men n one specific reform. but It's hrst ann Is 40
nroytde what NAV be called neutral PLATFORM, on
which societies with different aims may meet
SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES.
The advantages OF bringing societies with dii-
ferent objects together are manifold. First women
who are working for different purposes ana aloHe
different lines are often separated ana therelo'e
alienated from one another; they IAN 10 see '"a'
they are all weaving threads in one ana the sd'i'7
perfect pattern which will some day be seen as
completed whole BY meeting in the Council
clearer knowledge OF one another aims an
methods is inevitable ms eHect OF Iils -
knowledge Is 10 dsabus the mind OF prejudice anu
finally 10 enable the advocates Of various causes
TO see that all OF the objects may ne ptoiooy s
time money and force. as II soon FOUND ina many
existing organizations overlap one anoInsI' an
prehensive organization. Put the extreme lnpoI-
ia,cs ~ tho Rational Council arises from the fact
~ a., ,5is rneeting together the representa-
OF different causes have their minds enlarged %
Tho fact NJ their being diverted from their own
immediate aims and by becoming acquainted WIN
the aims OF others Also this compeis the STUDY
81 fundamental principles and such study and dis
cussion Inevitably illuminate every question from
all points OF view instead Of from the single point
OF view OF its particular advocates -.
The Local Council in America is our root idea
but as far as / see 1t has not yet caught on
or Community what the National Council does for a
country and what the International Council does
the scope Of the Local Council is to give as an
example the one IN my OWE to%n sacb
one having its specific work. These each send
n president and one delegate 10 the meetings OF
the Local Council. and II Is alter a Ihe T frd
lished that or more ultimate aims can De i9und
which every society can agree some Iliies ~ -
a matter Of hygiene sometimes soctd4 qItes'ioII
sometimes educational one. rms point OF
the things which separate so a. 20 De dDIe - W N
together for organization and FOR one common
international idea. II you mad had local councils
all through England, having as one OF their ach-
Government IA work on which II appears every
thinking and woman agrees you would have
all over the country 70 protest against the loss OF
rights to London women and London ratepsyers.
here If you possessed that II you made the mesh
~ vour net small enough through local councils
9nd yG their aia:ed Societies you would cover the
| land so completely that very little which you
wished to capture would be able TO wriggIe
Replying TO the question. What is the founda-
a siGn 81 is y Sonc e2s MTs seWe a SAID
Il am convinced believer In the power OF
| pears TO that men. being already weighted by
the traditions OF political parties to which they
! economic interests Of their different countries. and
| by their narrow conception Of patriotism. which
| much more difficult 10 ignore the things that sep
arate and TO acknowledge the things that unite
| them than do women BY the mere TACT tha 3 I
| women nave been excluded from political rights
In all countries they have their action left treer
! IN regard to politics No party ever owned women
and therefore they do not feel responsible 10 party
| as men do Moreover. feel that the sentiment OF
! maternity. which I cannot better describe than as
| a broodng for humanity and which Is just
! as strong in many unmarried and childless women
| as II is In the wife and mother, ena bles women
| 70 see the boundary lines OF their own coun-
| tries and grasp certain principles which underhe
equally the political movements and desires Of all
nations and certain progressive results. in Whlcn
| every nation IL equally interested
! LUXURY ~ APARTMENTS.
| The high water mark OF luxury in rented apart
ments has been reached in the model structure put
| up by Brandt Kirby al Nos 929 and 93l West