The San Francisco call., 1901-11-26
LADIES De BATE
RACE QUESTION
Mrs. julius Kahn Ably
Defends the Negro
Women.
Favors Permitting Them to
Join the Federation
of Clubs.


crowded yesterday afternoon with mem
bers and friends of the organization 1t
was the occasion of the much talked Of
debate on the mooted question Should
the color line exist in women's clubs p
This subject has been under discussion
for the last month. 1t was brought up by
the Women's Era Club of Boston, com
posed of eolored women, when they az
piled for admission 20 the General FEEDER
alton of Women's Clubs. Debates on TIE
subject are being held throughout the
country, and the result has in each case
been sent to the mother organization.
Next summer the an:i1al session of the
Angeles. AT that time the subject will be
taken up, and it will then be decided
whether colored women shall be permit
ted to be on an equality with the white
women of the country.
AT the Philomath Club the debate was
highly interesting. Mrs. Herman Heyne-
man and Miss Annie E. Pratt had the
affirmative. and Mrs. Julius Kahn and
Miss Mabel Claire Craft the negative. The
papers read were able and clearly defined
the stand of both sides.
Mrs. Kahn Upholds Black Sisters.
The affirmative commended that colored
women should not be permitted to JOIN
the federation, upon the ground that they
affiliate with the white sex. Among the
interesting papers read at the meeting
was that presented by Mrs. Julius Kahn,
wife of the Congressman from this city.
In part it is as follows:
To present the other side of the picture, to
endeavor to show that eolored women merely
because they. are colored and irrespective Of
merit education, culture breeding or any of
the attributes that go to make a good and
noble woman should be excluded from the gen
eral federation of womens clubs. This is not
to be a defense of the c0lored race, nor plea
for the social recognition of the colored women
(neither of which have the slightest bearing
fAafN aro1r sons urrN rUn
American women should extend at least heip-
ing hand to struggling womanhood who in
prejudice have risen above their surroundings
to such degree that tnrir application for
membership into. the general federation was
deemed worthy of the earnest and careful con-
sideration which it has received and is receiv-
ing from the various women's organizations OF
this country.
know nothing of the personnel CT the club
that applied for admission. have a vague
idea it is a club Of Massachusetts, women, put
of the question, from the abstract point OF
view.
The fact that the application was considered
and the only objection raised was that Of
color is sufficient guarantee that in other re-
spects the club filled the requirements OF ad-
mission. The members do not seek reeogni-
tion on the sympathetic plea but on their
own merit and desire to win recognition as
women. They would not accept 1t as q graf
uity to an inferior race.
Race Prejudice Inherent.
1t looks as if race prejudice were inherent
in all men. and the enlightenment that comes
with Intellectual culture may temper IT. but
seldom succeeds in eradieating 1t completely
We surely have no other reason than that OF
race prejudice to refuse them admission, and
in weighing this question it Is better 10 prac-
tice the golden rule than to repudiate it.
Keep them OUT is the cry OF the element
posing as conservative. 1T Is only the enter
ing wedge. They will demand social recogni-
ton next" And IL they do 1t rests with eacn
of us individually to refuse them social recnS-
milton If we wish. But even If We deny them
this shall we exclude them from the broader
and broadening influence of club life.
We preach the doctrine OF humanity Our
very government of which we are so proud
rests on q foundation of equal rights Cur
religions teach us a universal brotnernooc-
that we are all one in sight of one God, yet
we are ready to refuse these women. who by
force of character, by dint OF hard work, nave
raised themselves far beyond their original Do-
sition, the recognition to which they are en-
titled
Now at a crucial point in the history of the
relationship between blacks and whites, Wnen
the whole country is discussing the race prob
lem we as women are called upon to decide
whether we will stretch forth a helping hand
to our dusky sisters help them TO rise ana
in helping them help the whole people Inc
evolution of a race comes slowly, and a race
cannot advance independent of individual
whole at one and the same time, ike com
pany of soldiers parade. individuals must
first advance and furnish both means ana IN
centiye to enable others to do likewise.
Shall we push these women back into the
depths from which they have sprung, deny
them so that others following their example
NAV lose heart? 1t is only through contact
with the whites that the Saiyatlon OF the
negro can be accomplished.