New-York tribune., 1900-07-01
MRS. PALMER'SPARIS WORK
HER EFFORTS FOR THE RECOGNITION
OF WOMEN AS JURORS AT THE
EXPOSITION
Paris June @.


That the appointment Of three American women
the International Exposition Jury is due almost
solely to the continued efforts Of Mrs. Potter
Palmer. of the United States Commissioners, Is
secret. at least to anybody here. When Profess
Gore, another of the United States Commits
sloners, was asked II to Mrs. Palmer should not be
given the entire credit of the women appontees he
smiled significantly and said: We'll l should
say So"
Those vino have followed the course of affairs at
the American Commission found difficulty in
reading IN Professor Cores smile tribute 10 the
perseverance end energy of this plucky American
woman. who to Paris determined to tilt right
royalty for her and to accomplish what sire had
started out to Co The United States is the only
nation bes!des France which has appointed women
jurors and although France has six times
many Jurors as has the United States, the number
OF women-thrcs-frorn both countries is the Same.
These three women, has already been an
nounced. are Miss Jane Adams. of HUH House
fame. of Mrs. Palmer's best allies In wornen's
work in Chicago; Mrs. Henrietta c. Cldherg of
Washington. who will act IN the department OF
textile goods, and Miss Annie Tolma0 Smith, in
the department Of education. It is true that Mrs
Palmer hoped to secure the appointment of
much larger number Of women. and arrived In
Paris armed with list Of twelve names 10 pro-
pose those having authority IN the matter. But
it a discouraging task. Nobody else on the
American Commission evinCed the slightest inter-
est in the matter or seemed to have time to offer
Mrs. Palmer any encouragement. She found her
enthusiastic Frenchmen. Through their help the
matter brought to tho attention of Commits
sioner-General Picard. Just what NJ. Picard did,
OF course cannot be known, but when the list Of
American Jurors submitted for the approval
OF the French administration the names Of the
women mentioned above were sanctioned.
These appointments" said Mrs Palmer 70
Tribune representative, really end my active work
here. had little hope OF passing all my twelve
names, and should have felt repaid If only one
representative American had secured a
place the jury. 1t seemed to me Of the greatest
should n
this jury. This Exposition is the greatest and
most truly international that has occurred, and it
comes just before the dawn of century in which
women are to take place in the industrial
and economic world; I am particularly pleased at
the appointment of Mrs. Oldberg in the textile de-
partment, for while 1t might be expected that
women would be chosen to decide on philanthropic
and educational work, this appointment is sgnlf-
cant outlining practical role for the
talents and judgment of women"
Though Mrs Palmers work in regard to the jury
has come to successful end. she is interested
deeply in various sides of Exposition work In as
sociation with Mrs Susan Gale Cooke, she has been
influential in securing space for large number OF
exhibits of textiles and other Industrial arts which
represent the work of women, and at the moment
both these women are trying to get accommoda-