New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-10
INTERESTING TO CLUB WOnEN
MRS DECKER ON THE REORGANIZATION
OF THE GENERAL. FEDERATION.

MRS. DECKER ON The REORGANIZATION
OF THE GENERAL FEDERATION
The discussion Of the reorganization Of the Gen
eraI Federation of Women's Clubs viii be a par
ticuIarIy lively one at the approaching biennial
TO be held in Milwaukee in June. The views on
this subject, as expressed by Mrs Sarah Plat
Decker, OF Denver. vice-president of the General
Federation, will be OF interest 10 many. She says:
The question Of the reorganization of the General
Federation Of Women's Clubs is so prominently in
the minds OF al club workers at present that pos
ennial from the standpoint Of Denver cIubwornan
OF which I was Il was nv privilege 70 ACT as
one Of the Advisory COMMITTEES of the local Biennial
for kn6uIGp Of he VIZ 81 54 49, vas o1Oitt
which assisted IN arranging Tor the great conven-
The clubs and State declarations which desire a
reorganization OF the general federation give as
their chief reason for such desire that the bien-
NAL at Denver was unwteldy- The statements are
made that the delegated body was TOO large, the
convention cost TOO much money, the hall was TOO
crowded and year is expressed that cities VII! not
extend Invitations 10 the biennial because Of the
great work and expense entailed, etc.
AS far as the regularly accredited delegates TO
the fourth biennial were concerned, there
f-ad 1eonIe The 9etoia T1e - = u
sued, which included those given 10 speakers
quite eleven hundred, while the largest number of
ballots cast for anv officer according 70 offic;aI
report, was GA Surely the complaint made regard
ing tbs Inconvenience Of the business session is not
borne out by the figures.
There is uuwriLten law OF the federation that
only certain officers chairraen. guests etc, shall
receive entertainment IN private homes That lin
burden the committee the citizens. The only
fear ever expressed by the Entertainment Commit
tee that there would not be enough visitors TO
fill the eight large houses offered for the receptions
and the matter seriously debated Of includiu :
the fifteen hundred Denver CIu owomen these
found that nearly three hundred Invitations would
be required by the delegates and visitors.
II Denver's biennial was unwieidy with dele
gated body, OF perhaps elgat hundred, the other
credentials being complimentary, why increase the
number OF delegates? The average clubwOrlan
Ltot SEE rlS 1880 1850 o. IeiSoIIiIs LIS
proposition WOULD De considered logical! II IS pro-
posed 10 do away with the individual representa-
ton and have the membership through the State
alone am sure Cne propoSeTs FORGET That this
Incorporated body is the General Federation OF
Women's Clubs" and not the General Federation
OF State FederaC01s. II seems 10 me that the
States which advocate this measure combining
their outlook 70 their own borders, Doubtless
those Eplendidy dubbed States Of Massachusetts.
Illinois ard New-York could afford 10 their
State delegates far and wide and carry the
and inspiration OF the biennial 70 all their mem
conditions which prevail in many States We or
the Far West are poor; We nave great distances
ton could begin give the individual club what
tne presence OF It's president at the biennial car
Il means the coming in contact with the women OF
the Nation; II glory and gladness-
We snail al agree 1haL the past Is a record OF
grand results the marvellous growth and the won
derful accom- lishments OF the Genera! Federation
have been made under the present organization, IN
light OF The increasing interest IN club and
federation work which Is manifested cons antly
notably n the last month IN me formation or those
splendid federat-ons in California and Louisiana
with the Thought OF an these hopeful happy signs,
LEI us De careful not 10 reorsaEze 70 too great an
extent Many great speaker mas been q failure
because ne Aas polished ms Grafton until the sou!
and heart OF the message - not apparent Let Us
keep the soul OF this great organization in any
event. making only such changes VIII facilitate
business and not change the meaning and strength
az the whole.