Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-06-12
A CONVENTION OF WOMEN
Gathering of Federation Delegates
at Milwaukee.
COLOR LINE is DRAWN
The Plan of Reorganization Voted
Down After an Exciting
Debate.

milwaukee,, June fine OffICocS ana
board of directors of the General Fedora
ton Of Women's clubs held their adjourn
ed session at the Plankinton house club
room, where the principal topic under dis
cusslon was the question of admitting the
delegate from the Womans Era club of
Boston. After an animated discussion, in
which the question was thoroughly under
consideration, the matter was laid on the
table, which simply means that it is still
undecided Mrs. Ruffin, therefore, will
be accepted as delegate from the Mas
Sachusetts state federation, whose rep
resentative she is, but not accepted as
the representative of a colored club, and
the General federation thereby has avoid
ed setting a precedent i'll the admission
of cOlored clubs.
The Biennial Opens.
Milwaukee, Wis, June 5, 1900
The fifth biennial convention of the
General Federation of Women's clubs
was formally opened at the Alhambra
theater this morning at 10 o'clock. AS
early as half past the delegates began
to swarm up Grand avenue, a surging
stream of bebadged and bedecorated
women-towards the Alhambra, where,
after successfully running the gauntlet
of the doorkeepers, they were met by
the pretty girl ushers, in their dainty
summer frocks, and assigned to their
places.
The big auditorium resembled nothing
so much as an enormous beehive with
the continuous hum and buzz of CONVEX
sation that went on until the hour struck
10.
Then Mrs. Lowe arose. a slender fig
ure all in black, and faced the big audi
ence, everyone of whom was Il woman,
except a scattering reporter or two.
She raped upon the table with the
little shining gayel, but the rap was lost
In the din and confusion, and after two
or three attempts Mrs. Lowe was heard
to remark SottO vOce that ''it seemed to
be no use to try to call the convention
to order > But she finally succeeded
and announced that the meeting would
be opened with prayer by Miss Ellen c.
Sabin.
Miss Sabin in words of well-chosen
eloquence, invoked the divine blessing
upon the convention. and Mrs. Lowe
then introduced His honor the mayOr
of Milwaukee, and Mayor Rose wei
coined the convention.
Mrs. Neville Speaks for Wisconsin.
Then Mrs. Arthur Neville was intro
duced and gave the welcome for the
state federation. She was very well re-
celved. Her smiling cOuntenance and
CHEEKY voice seemed to go straight to the
hearts of the delegates. There was but =
slight allusion to the color question dur
ing the entire morning session and these
came in when Mrs. Neville spoke of the
downfall of social distinction' and the
universal brotherhood of man." These
illusions were greeted with but mild an
piause. Mrs. Neville made a hit when
she said that Wisconsin had been wait
ing 80 years to welcome the delegates.
After Mrs. Neyille's address Il delegate
arose to a question of privilege. She
wanted hats removed. And the sugges-
ton accomplished in twenty second what
man with his laundering methods tried
TO Sh 1bo
came off without a murnlur.
Mrs. Plat Decker Responds.
Mrs. Sarah S. Plat Decker of Denver
then was introduced to respond to the
address of welcome on behalf of the fed
Grafton. She spoke eXtempOrancOusly re-
ferring occasionally to notes. She seemed
to be one Of the most popular of the
women there, as she was greeted with
great applause and the women seemed
to hang upon her every word. She
seemed filled with good nature and made
several democratic and womanly face
tious little hits which took immensely
and were responded to with sympathetic
laughter.
Salute for Mrs. Lowe.
A few announcements were made by
the secretary at this time and then Mrs.
Lowe arose to deliver her biennial ad-
dress. She was greeted with great APP
plause and by the Chatauqua salute, d
-,
q low but plain voice, for three-quarters
of an hour, and was listened to with rapt
attention.
Especial applause greeted the state
ment Of the president that the wage
earning child as a class should be abol-
ished She turned with seemingly-boast
full glance at Mayor Rose, who sat in
rapt attention dignifed and humble. !
when she spoke of the greatness and
grandeur Of the organization there as
tO II
trained servants and unframed mis-
tresses" there was laughter and applause
and the speaker stopped to say, L am
glad to see that you recognize your frail-
ties" Again she glanced at Mayor Rose
when she said that reform in that line is
~'legitmately within our sphere APP
plause greeted the bon mot that good
housekeeping is not confined to the four
walls of home and when she spoke Of the
Philippines and said that the women
mast see to it that civilization is carried
to the islands as well as conquest, the
delegates listened intently and applauded
frequently. At the end of her address
she was presented with bouquet Of
Reeds Opinions Ruled Out.
Milwaukee, Wis, June 6, 1900
Mrs Lowe called the morning session
of the biennial to order at 8 o'clock
promptly with the words, Il said l would
open at g. and | have" She ordered the
doors closed while the minutes were read
by the secretary. The house was we'll
filled, although there were several seats
vacant. Two persons sat in the gallery.
and the balcony was half filled. The
reading of the minutes was interrupted
10y cries of louder and by applause.
Mrs. Lowe then introduced Mrs Hor-
ace Brock of Lebanon, Pa, chairman of
the reorganization committee, who was
greeted with hearty applause. After a
few preliminary remarks Mrs. Brock
read III a clear, firm voice the report rec
commended by the committee.
Mrs. Brock then read the views of the
minority Of the committee which favored
reorganization.
Mrs. Eagle, wife of the ex-governor
of Arkansas, was on her feet in a min
ute with a motion to adopt the majority
report Mrs. Brock contended that she
had made motion to consider the mi
nority report seriatum. After consider
able discussion the chair ruled in favor
Of Mrs. Eagle. Mrs. Shattuck of Illinois,
author of parliamentary manual, held
that motion to substitute minority re-
port for the majority was in order. Mrs.
Dennison of New York charged that bust