The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-13


The General Federation of Women's
clubs cannot fail 10 result in an inn
measurable amount of good TO large
army OF women and children. These
resolutions. too, certainly prove that,
though womcns clubs OF a past decade
have been concerned chiefly with intel
lectual and social pursuits. the future
show a development from higher and
nobler basis, namely that of service
for others.
Believing that right and justice de-
mand that women OF larger oppor-
tunitles should stand for the toilers
who cannot help themselves, we, there
fore. beg leave to present the following
resolutions:
Frst-That the United states govern
ment be asked To establish system OF
postal savings banks for the benefit OF
small wage earners.
Second--That no child under II years
OF age be employed in mill, factory,
workshop, store, office or laundry, and
no boy under 10 years OF age employed
in mines.
Third-That adequate school facilities
including manual training, should be
provided i'm the United States for every
child up to the age OF Ii years, and also
that good school laws shall be secured
and strictly enforced in every COM
munty.
Fourth-That in mill. factory. work.
shop. laundry and mercantile establish
ment, the maximum working day for
women and children shall not exceed
eight hours, or forty-eight hours per
week.
Fifth-That so far as possible, uni
form labor legislation shall be secured
throughout the different states.
Sixth~That each club i'm the Nation
al Federation shall appoint a standing
committee. whose special duty IL shall
be To inquire into the labor conditions
or women and children in that particu-
lar locality. That each state federation
shall appoint similar committee To
investigate its state labors laws and
those relating To sanitation and pro-
lection for women and children. That
IL also shall be the duties OF these COM
mittees TO influence and secure en-
forcement of labor ordinances and state
laws OF this character. That these COM
mitteeS, at specified times, shall in
form their organizations of all confer
ences and conventions in the interest
OF social and industrial progress. also
that the National Federation shall ap-
point committee of five members,
whose duty IL shall be TO collect the
reports of the aoove mentioned work
and present the results at the next con-
vention of the General Federation of
Women's clubs.
In connection with these resolutions
the following reasons for the same are
given, viz:
$50 large "a proportion of the people
are Obliged TO devote their best energ-
les to bread getting that grace and re-
finement born OF leisure are becoming
rarer. Industrial necessity is shorten
ing the period Of childhood, is driving
the boys and girls out of school into
factories and shops at so early an age
that to predicate the ignorance of the
future citizen Is as startling as IL is
sure.
THE development OF all social factors
art, literature, education. philan-
thropy and LAWS now waiting on in
dustrial development Ii is for these SO
cial factors that women's clubs are
working. The time has come for an ex-
tension OF effort toward those members
of society upon whose labor all depend,
and without whose improvement all de-
mands for "a higher standard will fail.
The best and brightest minds of all
countries are bending their energies to-
ward industrial reform. Therefore, TO
attain a clearer vision FOR her own pur-
suits to insure a safe and positive flu
lture for her children, TO ally herself
with the mental vigor OF the age. or
Eanized womanhood must study the
fundamental basis OF progress the
growth of industrial methods.
Among Rhode Island Club meetings
of recent date we may mention first
that of the Home Literary Club of
Woonsocket-Mrs. Lorimer was the
hostess, and Mrs. Wales read a very
IN fort % I'M Inc a.Fn of n..~f.t
Travels. The paper begins with the
start from New York and journeying
thence, over the ocean, the town OF
Colon which marks the eastern end of
the Panama canal, is reached. Here
the house of Ferdinand De Lesseps,
who lost 100000. was visited, and the
road 10 it leading through beautiful
groves OF palm trees, was described as
suggesting a veritable earthly paradise.
Interesting data concerning the Pana-
ma canal was given. AS We all know
IL has cost an immense amount OF
money. In less than ten years they
have spent more than $265 900 900 and
about twenty miles only are completed
at the eastern end. and'eight al the Pa
cific. IL is estimated that $3.50, ,000, 900
would complete the work.
Proceeding on the Journey and cross
ing the equator, the climate ana re-
sources of Columbia claim particular !
mines, the immense salt mines and the /
great tobacco industry. Moreover the /
latter industry seems to flourish here |
more successfully than anywhere in !
the world ana this was described at /.
length
Continuing. Ecuador ond It's great |
cocoa groves, from which the cocoa I
beans are gathered and converted into !
chocolate. Quito. the highest capital |
city In the world. Lima the capital of |
Peru were each considered regarding I
their people customs ana general char !
acteristics sail on lake Titicaca. Bo- /
livia. the highest body OF water on the /
globe. was described as presenting /
scenery OF the grandest description. be- {
ing a combination OF Lucerne. Geneva, |
IN Switzerland.
Entering Chiii the first stop Is at \
Valparaiso which the paper dOmn- /
ates the New York Of south America" /
Santiago. the capital 81 chill. Is spo- !
ken of as being as large as Washing
ton. -. G.. and comparing very favor |
ably with ~.
Passing through the Straits OF Ma /