Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-12-01

sible to return them add they ere nov
held under protest.
The matter stands here. the Genera
Federation OF WomeR's Climbs has nc
color line In its Constitution, there Il
nothing in lite Constitution, In lee oft
published statements OF idsss and aims,
in its supposed advanced position upon
humanitarian questions to lead any
club, W To like aims and views, 90
imagine itself ineligible for member
ship.
NO LRoAL GROUND FOR ACTION.
The Womsn's Era Club having been
regularly admitted, no legal or moral
ground can possibly be found upon
which it could be tuthlessly thrown
out, st the pleasure OF q few individ-
uals.
Asa member OF the Massachusetts,
state Federation. the Woman's Era
Club, 10 still . member of the Gensral
FEEDER stion. Although it feels itself
1ustiti d in holding its membership on
the sround OF lie admittsnce by Mrs..
Lewe, and ratification by the Board.
This lie the case exacsly a. is stands,
the fret question before the Board
and b-fore she country, 10 not whether
coiored clubs shall be admitted to lhe
Federation, but whether that unwar-
rantable setion shall be sustained
whether women asking for suffrage
and . larger participation In public
life, shall endorse o ruling which as .
speoimsn of Doe stsm could not be over
matched BY she lowest political gath
ering in the country. Wnethes this IL
70 o. allowed to stand 80 al example
TO the sons OF these women who are
nhQnc nnhlsn
that mistake was made in admitting
colored club, 10 there any justific.-
sion for she eorreeu1n Of the mistake
oy the overthrow OF lawf
TIE QUESTION OF THE COLOR LINE.
As to the other question 90 to whsth.
or sne denersl Feoerasieu shall draw
color line, she Woman's Era Club
does not enter into the discussion of
that There IL no record OF eolorcd
women's club forcins themselves upon
individuals or bodies; although there
seems TO be large fear OF tnis Our
club believes it voices the sentiments of
the eolored women of the country
wnen lt says it is perfectly willing Co
abide by the decision OF the majority
ss TO whether there shall be color dis.
elimination in she Federation. We
feel though that it 10 our right to say
that we shall feel very sorry for the
cause OF women 80 see its standard
lowered. its accepted ideas repudiat-
ed, its power diminished By any cellar
alton that il IL the cause OF viii WON
n Tor which it stanas. not the cause of
woman.
However. Whatever may be the Pc
salt OF elaboration upon this question
We beg the women Of the clubs 60 make
the decision X Jlicit and 6oal 60 that
IN the future, 10 their work for the up
lifting OF women there may be no pos
toility OF the trampiing upon the feel
legs aud aspirations of those they CON-
sider beneath them.
The wearers of she despised "ccloA q
many millions strong-ssDnot annib
lste or eliminate themselves, they are
forced, in the passing ct the years, to
touch the larger life OF the nation ut
many poiuts-is was supposed that
such contact was desirable for all par
ties-but should it be deemed undt-
siraole by those with the greatest pow
er: it is only human that the weaker
side should be allowed to protect itself,
this, however, IL not the question we
urge. Our stand is this: Our club was
duly and regularly admitted TO the
General Fec erasioo of Women's Clubs,
the action in throwing il out was illeg-
al. We ask IL you can afford 90 en-
dorse that action.
FLORIDA RUFrIs RIDLEY. See. Com.
JOSEPH Ne ST. p. RuFFIs.
ARIANSA o. SPARROW,
HANNAH @. SxIrR
Committee on Statement of the
WomAn's Era Club.
Boston, Mass No II 1900.