The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-27


man Of state or national importance will fig
ure in the proceedings of the convention.
the programme promises an interesting
and valuable discussion of subjects Of
paramount Importance to women, and
the election of officers for the following
two years Is always attended with very
general excitement OF vast moment to the
delegates and members of the federation
Undoubtedly the big Milwaukee bien-
niaf'-otherwfse known as the fifth con-
vention of the General Federation of
Womens Clubs-will be the most notable
assemblage of women ever held In the
United States, The elaborate plans are
In support of this prophecy Two years
ago at the convention held In Denver the
rules adopted by the assembly increased
the dues of the club members from $40
to $50. while the number of delegates to
the biennial convention remained the
same. This aroused a considerable storm
of opposition at the time of the Denver
meeting. but the resolution passed never
theless. Many OF the different women's
clubs OF the country affiliated with the
federation claimed that, while the taxa
ton was doubled. the representation al
lowed each association In the convention
remained undisturbed. They agreed also
that tho sum decided upon for the dues
was too heavy for many OF the clubs to
keep up without gaining a more practical
benefit from the expenditure.
The programme which Is just completed
Ii brilliant with the names of foremost
American women. The sessions-there
are twenty OF them. covering the first
week In June--have been arranged by
specialists ON the practical work of the
federation, such as the industrial con-
dition of women and children, art in the
schoolroom and In the municipality. home
industries. domestic science. civics and
education The speakers on these sub
jects number fifty.
Tn the surprisingly short TINA Of Ton
years the federation has grown to a
membership OF $500 clubs, numbering
over 10000 women These figures are
from official statistics of six months ago,
and without doubt the ante-biennial
scramble to get into the official fold has
increased this number considerably.
These 1850 clubs are found all the way
from the metropolis TO the mountain
town., and represent every state In the
| Union. The majority of them will send
| at least one delegate to the convention,
80 that with the hundreds of club women
who Will go on their own hook there will
| be no less than 5000 club women In at
tendance with their most scintillating
SAY"
Coupled with this tremendous growth
of the federation has sprung up In the
1 past two years the much-mooted ques-
| ton OF reorganization. AS the country
| is divided on the issue the discussions
| give promise of marked animation. In
/
| looked upon by the leaders as an impor-
tant turning point In the life of the fed
Grafton.
| The president, Mrs Rehecca Lowe OF
| Atlanta, Notwithstanding the recent
( death of her husband, will preside over
the convention. The success OF this great
| gathering she will share with Mrs Ed
| ward L. Buchwslter OF Springfield. O..
| who as chairman OF the programme com
mittee has spent months in it's consum-
nation. Another woman conspicuously
| connected with the programme is Mrs
| Herman Hall of Chicago. chairman OF
tho art committee. who has been given
| the unprecedented allowance Of three
| sessions. These three women Will share
| honors with Mrs. James sidney Peck. of
! Milwaukee the hostess Of the convention
1 city. who has supervised lavish list OF
l social pleasures on the Side.
Club women all over the country in
/ the meantime. are preparing to 10 70 the
/ convention in special trains From New
/ York will be a big delegation, headed by
| Mrs, William Tod Holmuth. noted as a
! member of thirty-six womens clubs
/ From California will come the wife OF the
/ pastor humorist. Mrs. Robert J. Bur
! dette. and her cohorts The MassRchu-
setts club women will be headed by Mrs
1 Anna West the Pennsylvania club
| women by Mrs Ellis Lewis Campbell
the Georgia club women by Mrs. J, Lind
say Josnson. and 50 on through other
states, which will send equally distin-
| guished delegations.
on the eve Of this big convention II is
! interesting to hear from the president on
| the development Of the federation in the
| last two yearN and the probable effect
| OF reorganization on its future success.
| In statement prepared for the ST. Louis
! Globe Democrat Mrs. Lowe said:
las to the growth OF the federation
under my regime. think It has been
along perfectly natural lines. The great
! est interest prevails in all parts OF the
| country which | have visited. | have
found clubs constantly reaching out into
| broader fields Of work, becoming more