The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-20
POPULAR PARTISAN MODES OF THE MOMENT

come together. The first half of this re-
mark might be fttingly applied to the
recent Minnesota convention. Certainly
the women wore good gowns and wore
them well. But their manners fitted their
gowns. Even at that smomentous session
Thursday, vexing discussion failed to
agitate judicial calm. Calmly, disinter-
estedly, consideringly, they listened to
the speeches made by their brightest
speakers for or against the admission OF
the Adelphi club. Dispassionately, ap-
parently, they weighed the evidence and
then-each one voted according to her
prejudice.
The color question may not be settled,
so far as any colored club in Minnesota
is concerned, for in the course of time
it may be possible indeed, it is extremely
probable, that clubs of colored women
will be allowed to join the state fedora
ton For the white club women it has
been settled for good and ALL They have
gone on record as opposing the admis-
sion of the Adelphi club. Whatever ac-
ton may be taken by the general fedora
ton, which meets next May-whether it
be conservative or liberal-cannot obit-
crate the fact that Minnesota women
have shown exactly how they feel in the
matter. Not for it's own sake, but for
the sake of the women of the federation
do I hope that the Adelphi club will be
admitted" said Miss Evans, in her nota-
BILE plea for the colored club. And with
her many of the brightest women of the
convention feel that Minnesota should
have set the example in liberalism-that
a generous stand would have been more
becoming the representative women of the
North Star state than the narrow one
they took.
EXCELLENT ORD4R THROUGHOUT.
Aside from the ethical and sociological
point involved, the discussion of the
question was important for this reason:
1t proved conclusively how completely
club women have learned to govern them
selves OF trying occasions. Mrs Lydia
P. Williams, the presiding officer, was en-
tirely in sympathy with those who OPP
posed the admission of the colored club
into the federation. Yet. her attitude as
presiding officer was above criticism.
And on the floor there was no undisnif1ed
clamoring for recognition, no unusual
heat displayed in the three-mlnute
speeches. Club women have taken one
step in parliamentary progress. Iney
avoid ridiculous appearance. They have
vet another step to take. They must lose
the consciousness of this avoidance.
Not few club women are complaining
that the convention was almost entirely
devoted to business-that little was Of
fered them in the way of intellectual
food For this reason the present con-
vention is thought to be inferior to the
one held year ago in Duluth. But COM
planning ones should remember that a
year ago there was no vexed color ques-
ton to settle and no president to be
elected And apropos of this presidential
election many club women are still blink
ing their eyes in surprise over its result.
Perhaps it was owing to the thought
that Mrs. Williams withdrawal from the
field was not final that little thought was
given to any other candidate. 1t was not
until after the castingzof the nominating
ballot that all hope of her accepting the
presidency for another term died Then
the Fourth district made a heroic effort
to persuade a st. Paul woman to accept