New-York tribune., 1900-06-29
GROWTH OF THE G. F. ". G.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Eight years ago. when the first biennial OF
the General Federation OF Womeu's Clubs con-
vened at Chicago, certain of the elder clubwomen-
namely, Mrs Julia Ward Howe the Rev An
tonette Brown Blackwell and Mrs Ednah D
Cheney-said to one another in the hearing Of the
writer: The enthusiasm shown at this meeting is
very delightful But what VIII be the future of the
federation? What work will it do?" Each Of these
women is well known a philanthropist. and to
them, as well as to the rest of US, It is a very
gratifying thing that trend Of the General Fed
GRAFTON. well of the individual clubs has been
toward works Of public 1892 most of the
women's clubs occupied themselves mainly with
the sef-cuture Of the members, as. indeed, the
constitution of the G. F. W. c. plainly showed
since it demanded that clubs applying for admission
should not be primarily philanthropic or tech
nical" IN purpose. Since that time there has been
a great change we now have numerous associa-
tons for town and village improvement and patri-
otic societies as members. and many clubs have
departments devoted to civic other phtlanthropic
works In a word. the women's clubs OF our broad
land have ceased to advocate self-improvement
only, and doing what in them lies TO further the
reforms OF the day and hour that pertain to educa
ton, good municipal housekeeping and the like
The founding OF public libraries, the establish
ment and circulation Of travelling Libraries, the
creation and support Of kndergartens, vacation
schools and Fairgrounds for poor children the
establishment Of a State Board Of Education (the
work Of the Delaware State Federation), the suo-
cessful candidacy Of for school trustees (as
IN Rutherford, y. jail these and many more
good things being done by women's clubs.
The reports at Milwaukee telling of all these good
things-will they not stimulate other women to go
and do likewise, If not better?
Those Of US who have attended the numerous
biennial conventions Of the General Federation
feel that there has been great growth, improve
rnent and development. Among other things the
and announcement of the club movement
If 10 sum up the good done by the bien-
NAL at Milwaukee must not forget the pleasure
and advantage derived from hearing the many de-
ughJful speakers at the evening sessions.
We also got good hints from the
their demands on their press writer's; but, alas
We did not cross the Rubicon Of the color line!
But that will in time Miss Ridgeley, OF
Baltimore, who is giving her life 10 good works,
has solved the color problem in way TO be recon-
rnended Southern sisters In the United
Daughters of Maryland, society which she
stablished there are three chapters-one composed
society women Each chapter has right
the seal Of the association. and all vote
equality while the three divisions sit like many
different States. in the same assembly. While this
plan is not democratic enough for our General
Federation. ft is to be recommended TO those
Southern States which have not yet outgroWn
arfsrocratic distinctions, and which are hampered,
we must remember. by the presence OF great
number Of uneducated people, black and white.
The congregation Of mankind and OF woman
having a common purpose into large bodies
Is a race instinct a human instinct, and when the
obiecr is the result has been good,
history bears ample witness, from the time OF the
FLORENCE HOWE HALL
A-lA q 1901