The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-24
ADELPH| CLUB MUST WAIT
WHITE WOMEN NOT WILLING TO
SAY 1T MAY JOIN FED
GRAFTON
FURTHER DELAY coUNsELED
Southern Women Will Secede From
General Organization If Col
Ored Clubs Are Ad-
mitted.

The small colored girl who has not been
granted permission to play on the jeal-
ously-guarded rear premises of her small
white sisters federated club domain, met
that white sister in amicable discussion
yesterday afternoon. Well gowned and
beautifully hammered, each representative
of her respective race sat on the gate
post of her allotted estate, the one with
a wistful eye on the velvet green of the
forbidden territory the other with a
watchful orb on that same little fenced
in strip.
The Adelphi club, composed of about
fifty of the more prominent colored wo-
men Of st. Paul and Minneapolis, repre-
scented the playmate that would be 50
cable.
Several members of the federated clubs
of both cities. including Mrs. Lydia p
Williams, of Minneapolis, the state .. es-
ident, spoke for the interests of the
conservative young person ON the other
gate post. At the end of the discussion
it could not be said that the gate posts
had advanced an inch, but at least the
amiable feeling had been increased.
The meeting was held at the residence
of Mrs Frederick L. McGhee, on Uni
versity avenue. Mrs. Jennie Napier
Kemp, of Minneapolis, president of the
Adelphi, presided. In calling the meeting
to order Mrs Kemp stated that in view
Of the recent discussion attendant upon
the efforts of the New Era club, of Bos-
ton, to obtain entrance into the National
Federation of Womens Clubs, and in
view, also, of the fact that the Adelphi
club Of the Twin Cities had recently made
request fer admission blanks from the
state federation for the purpose of MAX
Ing formal request to become part
of that body, it was thought wise that
the members Of the colored club should
meet with some of the members of the
state federation to- discuss the advisable
ity Of such an action.
MASTERPIECE OF DIPLOMACY.
Mrs. Lydia P. Williams, in an address
that was masterpiece of diplomacy,
presented the side OF the federation,
She acknowledged that the claim of the
colored clubs was different, perhaps a
little broader, than that Of the white
Woman's clubs. The acknowledged pur-
pose Of the former was to help others.
Mrs. Williams stated that as yet the
clubs she represented had not advanced
much beyond the purpose Of helping
themselves. There were unaIienable
rights that no man could deprive any
or US Of, political, civil and religious
rights. Such rights, however, should not
be COMPOUNDED with an artificial right
small privilege, a club opportunity
which could not be demanded, but could
the objection had been made that it
was unconstitutional not to admit a
colored club, but, In her opinion, much
depended upon the definition Of ''uncon-
stitut1onal." 1t was the inherent right
OF every organization to look out for it's
sef-preservatfon If an element should
endeavor to thrust itself into the organ
lzation that by so-doing would imperil
that organizations very existence, it
could not be termed unconstitutional to
keep that element out.
Just now, considering the present attf-
tude of the Southern club women. the
colored clubs would prove themselves
such an element. It was unfortunate
that there was prejudice against adj
mlttlng colored clubs into the federation
put since such a prejudice existed was
1t not better to preserve the organization
intact rather than have its usefulness
destroyed by the disturbing element?
personally, Mrs. Williams assured her
listeners, she dep1ored such q prejudice
but she had to consider the welfare of
the organization she represented. She
thought that there ought to be a COM
promise measure that would leave each
state the privilege of working with whom
II pleaSed. However, since there was no
such compromise measure, she believed
IL would be unwise to force q state pol
ICY on the general federation by urging
on minnesota the matter Of the admis-
sion OF the Adelphi She said that she
knew six state presidents in. the Sonth
VINO were today holding their fedora
lions back by will power to keen them
from taking action. If Minnesota took
any step-and the speaker Acknowledged
that Minnesota's sympathies were with
the colored clubs-it would have the
same enect on the national federation
that the bullet fired on Fort Sumter
forty years ago had on the national GOV
eminent
PLEAD FOR DELAY.
- Mrs. Mary. Burr Lewis, of .Minneapo-
OF the Adelphi's application be held IN
allegiance. Mrs. George II. SquNes. in
snort talk; congratulated the Adelphi
el99 warmly on the progress it was so
EVIDENT 1t had made, and stated that so
Tar as minnesota was concerned she was
certain the colored clubs would be wei
coined gladly, but she thought the South
ern club women should be considered.
Inc Northern women had no right to CO.
cree them. Mrs. c.. P. Moves and Mrs.
James INES also spoke along the same lines
Tor the Adelphi club. Mrs. Porter naively
referred to the frequent mention that had
p pee made of Booker T; Washington by
Because Mr.. washington is conserve
tive, we are told we must be conserys-
tive; because he is willing to wait, we are
COlO we IIlUSl walt. But Mr.. washington
is of the Southland; we are of the North
and conditions are different here" she
said. Mrs. Porter stated that the Adelphi
club could not be called aggressive, be-
cause it had not discussed the question
at all. It had simply listened to what
the federated club members had to say
The speaker stated that her coworkers
had no desire to disturb the serenity of
the national federation. The colored won1-
en- simply had desire for the help that
would come from affiliation with the
stronger and more progressive body Per-
haps, too, her sisters had hoped not only
to gain advantages, but to confer some
as we'll
Mrs. Turner. of St Paul, thought that
If the Southern clubs really did secede |
they would come back speedy to their |
allegiance. for the Southern women were
loyal at heart.
A general discussion followed. but no |
action was taken. The Adelphi club |
meets next month in Minneapolis, and 1t
will then decide whether or not 1t will !
ask for admission into the state fedora |
ton. Should 1t decide to do so. the state
federation at its meeting next October |
can grant or refuse the admission or re- |
fuse to act upon 1t at all. leaving the de- |
cision to the national federation