The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-10-31
|WOMEN'S CLUBS MEET
President Says Federation
Must Take a Stand on
Color Line.


Hudson County attended the seventh an
nuaI meeting of the New Jersey State
Federation OF Women's Clubs in Trinity
Congregational Church OF East Orange
this morning. Mrs. C. s. Wright, ex-
president of the Open Hand Club of Jer-
sey City. was one of the nominees for
director, and large delegation. both
from her own club and other Jersey City
clubs, arrived early to do some election
eering prior to the meeting. Among the
Open Hand members were Miss Recide
and Miss Augusta Stuhr, delegates, Mrs.
w. Allen, Mrs. Edwin Van Houten, Miss
Mary Edwards; from the Woman's Club
there were Mrs. Brice Collard Mrs A.
J. NeWbury, Mrs. G. w. Case, Mrs. w. f.
Turner, Mrs. q. T. Bavey; from the Odd
Volumes Miss Harrison and Miss Jean
Mcbride
The session opened at half-past ten.s
with organ voluntary. The address Of
welcome was made by Mrs., Emma
Blackwell, president of the Woman's Club
of Orange. She welcomed the ladies', of
whom there were between six and seven
hundred present, with few well chosen
Wor ds.
Mrs. Hartshorn responded She knew of
ttc te%s1Hs well
come clubs IN Orange, because it was
through an Orange club that the Fedora
tien was brought into existence
A number of reports followed these ad-
dresses. Mrs. David M Miller reported as
recording secretary by reading the min
utes of the last Federation meeting In
Newark
Miss Charlotte " Tuttle reported as
members in the Federation, she said. rep
resenting IS clubs, and clubs have joined
during the year, namely: Medical Club of
Newark Tuesday Musical Club of East
Orange, Teachers Club of Camden,
Woman's Club of Upper Montclair Eliza
beth Teachers Club, Saturday Club of AS
bury Park, The Borough of Metuchen
One club, the Woman's Municipal Inn
provement Association of Newark, has
withdrawn
Miss Cecilia E. Gardner as treasurer re-
ported balance of s10717. There were
l5i delegates
In the presidents annual address.
which opened the afternoon session. Mrs
Hartshorn took firm stand on the color
line Her policy is regardless of race or
color. and in her address she said:
1.-THE cycle of that mystic number,
seven, has brought US around to the place
Of our birth, and the club that issued the
call of conference to consider the organ
ization of State Federation of Women's
Clubs is today entertaining the body of
its own creation.
There is one question I must touch
upon, although I feel utterly unequal to
the task-the color question, that came
up at Milwaukee and that will again be
placed before us at the next biennial.
The majority will agree that the intro
duetion of the race question was un-
fortunate, but it is with us, and we must
think of it and prepare ourselves to act
wisely and intelligently when the time
comes. The Federations of Massachus-
etts and Georgia have each formulated
plans for representation in the General
Federation with a view 20 settling the
matter. AS yet they have not found the
common ground upon which they could
meet
In the certificate of corporation we
read. The General Fedeation Of Women's
Clubs has been formed to bring into COM
munication with one another the various
clubs throughout the world that they
may compare methods Of work and be-
come mutually helpful The General
Federation was not only meant to be
national but International If it remain
an international body the race question
can have no place in it. 1t should re-
main as it was organized on broad
democratic basis, where wage-earners,
professional women and women of leisure,
regardless of nationality or race, might
meet as women for the time being, with
social distinction thrown aside.
Il extend hearty greeting to the clubs
that have Joined the Federation during
the year, and wish to assure them that
I have warm interest in their purpose
and plan of work. I am sometimes ask
ed: What advantage is there In belong
ing to the Federation 1t is the inspirsa-
tion one gets in a meeting of women
coming from all parts OF the State for
the purpose of cooperation and inter-
change of ideas. In all relations there
should be reciprocity. Another question
might be suggested: What can we take
to the Federation?' We need each other.
There is strength in union."
Among the guests of honor, each of
whom brought greetings during the presi-
dents hour, We're Mrs Rebecca Douglas
Lowe, president of the General Fedora
tion; Mrs. Dimies, T. S. Denison, first
vice-president Of the General Federation;
Mrs G. W. Kendrick Jr.. corresponding
secretary of the General Federatien: Mrs.
Cornelius Zabriskie president of New
York State Federation; Mrs. Ellis Lewis
Federation, and Mrs. Hugh Reid Griffin.
president of the Society of American
Women in London.