The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-19
co1onED HONEY OFT.

The discussion had among the ladies at
Owatonna on the subject of the admis-
sion to membership in the Minnesota
State Federation of Women's Clubs was
both entertaining and instructive. 1t had
always appeared to the Clio b that
there could be but one outcome of such
discussion and of the application of the
colored ladies for admission to the club
sisterhood of the white women. We have
not been mistaken.
To those ladies who took the aftirma-
tive position on either side the public is
indebted for the important part which
they played in the final action taken and
for the good example of sincerity and
frankness which they set to the others.
There was only one question at issue,
which was whether the white women
would consent to meet their colored sis
ters on perfect plane of social and in
dividual equality. 1t might be, of course,
as some of the white ladies so ingenious
II urged, that it would be better for the
colored women to remain entirely in club
association with women of their own
color, or indeed, that their membership
in the white women's organization might
operate in a certain sense to cut them
off from association temporarily with
their own people in that form of reIa-
tionship, but there was no matter of that
nature considered by the colored women;
and they in making their application
must be understood as knowing what was
best for them, what was their prefer
ence and what would be the effect on
their relations with the women of their
own race and blood
All the suggestions of this general ma
ture offered by those who were really
in opposition to the admission of the col
ored women were mere expedients. They
eTaded a settlement of the question In
deed it may be said with truth that only
those women on each side of the dis
cussion who urged the immediate settle
ment of the matter one way or the other
showed themselves qualified and entitled
to affect permanently the deliberations
OF the body.
The report adopted was in itself some
thing of a makeshift. But it has this
great advantage: 1t will deceive nobody.
1t means the success of those who op-
posed the admission of the coIored
women. The friends of the free inter-
course of the races in club membership
made very creditable showing, 1t is
plain that there is a good proportion OF
women in frst-class social position in this
section who are not afraid to be brought
in personal touch with their colored sis
tiers. 1t shows, too, that they are the
class of women who know their own
minds and are not disposed to have the
slightest reference to subterfuge in up
holding their opinions
The spirit of the report adopted is one
such as should cause every thoroughly
self-respecting woman with African blood
in her veins to go into revolt Compro-
mise ought not to be a contingency ac-
coptable to the colored women under any
circumstances. If they cannot be ad-
mitted on their merits without apology
or explanation, they should repudiate all
wish to become members. They are mere
lnterlopers once they come in under a
compromise.
There are a great many educated and
cultured colored men and women in this
state. If they and such as they are to
be admitted into association with white
women only on a. compromise they can be
relied on to withdraw their application
and confine themselves to association
with those of their sex whose skin is
of the same color.