The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1901-11-02
WOnIENs FEDERATION
a Southern Woman Presents the Very Bes,
81" i. Views on the Subject. f~...--ft

sIhere has been considerable contro-
Versy pro and con regarding the ad-
mission of AfrO-American clubs into
the Women's Federation and much has
Deen written on the subject, but about
the best presentation of the case comes
Irom Southern woman, Miss Leonora
=. Halsted, of st. Louis, as follows:
10 the Editor of the Globe-Democrat:
St Louis, Mo-, October ia meet
Ing OF the Missouri Federation Of Wo-=
mems Clubs is to be held few DAYS
hence, at which some important ques-
lions in regard to the general fedora
ton are to be voted upon. One of
these IS an amendment proposed by
Georgia, advocating that the general
federation shall be composed exclusive
~ OF clubs Of white women. Against
this Massachusetts has protested and
oHers substitute involving a reorgan-
lZatlOn Of the federation "a measure
that was voted down at the last bien-
nlaD but whose main point is that
each state should decide it's own rules
OF membership by which it should be
admitted into the federation. I
I ln#order to, clear the issue from all
extraneous questions, the "Wednesday
CLUB, OF st. Louis, offers another sub
s s'p, and has Instructed it's delegates
70 @ present the following: THAT clubs
containing 6: "a colored women should be
eilglDle to the general federation in
those g Sc states. in which they. are eligible
70 InemDershlp In the state federation. 2
Ihls brings the matter squarely be-
lore the house. and what is Missouri
gong 70 90 aboet it? The question
mas been debated, with some warmth,
IN q most most cases, in all the Missouri
cups, and now the state has to decide
now she will put herself on record at
the biennial to meet next June.
ne issue can not be avoided. Every
club did its best, no doubt, to. find a
m I . tl1 OF evasion, but failed, for the
situation s. is this: Massachusetts sent
a. colored delegate to the last biennial:
the president of the federation IS
Georgia woman so Georgia says:
~ his shall not be- while Massachu-
sets replies: Let each state settle the
matter for itself. 2 No says Geor-
GA hat will not do at all. Go my
way. way, or Twill secede, 2 and the solid
south s'l''n no doubt, will follow Georgia.
iead: But Massachusetts will not; she
declines the honor; and il the. Geor-
gid 9, aInendmelt is adopted ] Massachu-
s ss7Lt followed by New England, Ohio.
and illinois, will go out. Either Way
there seems 40 choice but rupture nm
less one side of the other surrenders.
:, which l'1a s1s IS not likely. and so fedora.
1lol composed Of 400, 900 women, who
nav nave worked in harmony heretofore.
VIII g. spllt.into a divided body OF North
and South. S q & - s. |
Y e e great pity; and it seems
orange /, enough that this ancient issue
- g I'D come up among the women to
oe fought Y over again, and argued about
with the old refuted arguments, as ifl
history lsase,r We're not, and its verdict writ
arge 10 blood on the face of the times
were s invisible to- our eges.s
4 but, It is said /. the colored people
nave lay equal rights before the law (theI
. ournings and secure ings that are ma
lo iona degrade alton being ignored):
iced we take them into our homes and
marry lia Them to orr hers and sonsY
Would that Inevitably follow? Are
ney SO irresistibly attractive that the
ringing @ q few colored delegates "a