Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-06-08
A VEXED QUESTION.
Federation of Women's Clubs Are
Confronted with One.
THE COLOR LINE is INVOLVED.
The Proposition to Recognize Clubs
Formed by Colored Ladies' Finds
Many Supportcrs-The First
Days Proceedings.

Milwaukee, June 6.-The opening OF
the fifth biennial convention of the
General Federation of Women's clubs
Tuesday was most animated. Not
only did Mrs. Lowe make a profound
impression at the morning session
with her biennial address, but great
deal of business was handled in a
lively manner, to say nothing of the
color controversy on the side. After
the board of directors turned down
the Colored Woman's club of Boston
Monday, it was thought the Massachu-
sets delegates would make public
protest at the afternoon session, when
the credentials committee made it's
report. But the Massachusetts wom-
en- say they desire to have the mat
ter settled as quietly as possible by
the board, instead of forcing it to a
public issue. In the morning they
were conspicuous for their absence at
the beginning of the morning session,
and it afterwards transpired they
were absent in the interest of an in
dignation meeting at which a COM
mittee of two was appointed to carry
out the wishes of this delegation to
support the colored delegate, Mrs. Jo-
sephine Ruffin.
Stand Little Show.
In the afternoon the committee drew
up resolution of protest which they
sent to the board late at night, in
which they ask that the colored dele
gate be restored to her rights in the
convention, urging that in a great or
ganization such as the National Fed
Grafton there should be no distinction
on account of color. This protest was
signed Dy Miss o. M. E. Rowe, presi-
dent of the Massachusetts Federation,
and Mrs. Annie West, state chairman
OF correspondence. If the opinion of
the members of this board is I'M
changed since it's first meeting, the
resolution will stand little show. But
three members of the board spoke in
favor of retaining the colored dele
gate. They were Mrs. Sarah Platt-
Decker, of Denver; Mrs. Charles Nor
ris, of Berlin, Wis, and Mrs. James
Windsor, of Des Moines, la. The other
members of the board were either OBJ
posed outright or remained silent 1t
is probable the board will consider
this matter some time to-day.
State Delegations Take n Hand.
In the meantime various state dele
cations are meeting, and with a num-
Der the color question has been made
an issue. The Iowa delegation was
the first to meet Tuesday morning
and to put its protest on paper. In
the afternoon the Utah delegation
called on Mrs. Ruffin in body and Of
fered their support. There seems to |
be no way of avoiding pointed issue,
and Mrs. Ruffin, as well as the Massa-
chusetts delegation, are inclined to
push it to settlement Mrs. Ruffin |
said, that Notwithstanding she was
named as a delegate from two white
the New England Press
association and the Massachusetts
State federation, she would not pre-
sent her credentials from these organ
izations. She will enter as delegate |
of the New Era club of Boston, or not |
at all. In the meantime she is occu-
plying seat with the Massachusetts |
delegation, but has no vote. That she
is not willing to compromise in the
matter is evidenced in the fact that |
when a southern woman, Mrs. j. T..
Johnson, of Atlanta, importuned her to
appear only as delegate'of a white
she answered that she
was not willing to surrender her
tights.