The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-06-13
A CONVENTION OF WOMEN.
Gathering Of Federation Delegates
at Milwaukee.
COLOR LINE IS DRAWN.
The Plan of Reorganization Voted
Down After an Exciting
Debate.

zion OF w 0men,S CLUBS held their JOurn-
ed session at the Plankinton house club
room, where the principal topic under dis
cuSSlon was the question of admitting the
delegate from the Woman's 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. Rufin, therefore, will
be accepted as delegate from the Mas
sachusetts state federation, whose rep
resentative she is, but not accepted as
the representative of 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 8 the delegates began
to swarm up Grand avenue, 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.
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 a woman
except a scattering reporter or two.
She raped upon the table with the
alttle shining gayel, but the rap was lost
in the din and confusion, and after two
or three attempts Mrs. Lowe was heard
to remark soto voce that sit 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 G..
Sabin.
Miss Sabin. in words of well-chosen
eloQueDce, invoked the divine blessing
upon the convention, and Mrs. Lowe
then introduced His honor the mayor
of Milwaukee, and Mayor Rose well
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 alluslon 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
plause. Mrs. Neville made a hit when
she said that Wisconsin had been wait
ing 2o0 years to welcome the delegates
After Mrs. Neville's address delegate
arose to question of privilege She
wanted hats removed And the sugges-
ton accomplished in twenty second what
man with his laundering methods tried
twenty years to accomplish. The hats
came off without Il murmur
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 eXtemporaneously, 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
..4 Sc1ute 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 ap-
plause and by the Chatauqua salute, Il
waving of handkerchiefs. She spoke in
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 a seeminglyboast
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
.sembled. When she alluded to ''un-
drained servants and unframed mis-
tresses" there was laughter and applause
and the speaker stopped to say. Il 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
"'legitimately 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
must see to it that civilization is carried
80 the islands as well as conquest, the
delegates listened intently and applauded
frequently At the end of her address
she was presented with a bouquet of
flowers.
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, II said l would
open at y, and nave. She ordered the
doors closed while the minutes were read
by the secretary. sThe house was we'll
filled, although there were several seats
vacant. Two persons sat in the gallery.
and the balcony was half filed The
reading of the minutes was interrupted
by 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 in 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 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 a parliamentary manual, held
that motion to substitute minority re-
port for the majority was in order. Mrs
Dennison of New York charged that bust
showed thp DrQVlOUS OupStiOn If was