The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-10-30


horne, sit was both my pleasure and good
fortune to be chosen your President.
My term Of Office will always be one of
pleasant memories as well as being two
fruitful years. No woman can serve the
Federation without receiving far more
than she gives to it.
I'VE are now well organized through
out the country, and think the majority
recognizes that we have it in our power
to benefit the race by studying conditions
OF all classes and as far as possible try
ing to mitigate some of the evils that a
portion of society suffer from.
"One thing that appeals to every wom-
an is the subject of factory laws affecting
women and children. There are few or
CARNATIONS among working women.
Children are at the mercy of both un-
thinking parents and rapacious en-
ployers. Let us look into the conditions
in our own State and gather and system
atically arrange statistics on the subject
Of child labor. We can do nothing with
out positive knowledge but with facts
70 back our accusations we have it in our
power to create a public opinion that will
make It impossible for those eyading the
law to continue their practices.
WOMEN DEMAND WOMAN.
The women of New Jersey are making
Z great effort to have a woman factory
inspector appointed whose business it
shall be to inspect all factories where
women and children are employed. trust
before the close of another wear their
efforts will be crowned with success. In
all large communities one of the health
inspectors should be woman. The ex-
pertinent has been tried in some places
and the women inspectors not only found
perfectly efficient but particularly adapt
ed to the work, able to discover and ac-
complish more than men in the same
places, A sympathetic, tactful woman
can overcome many of the prejudices the
poor have against the health inspector
whose business is to inquire into the con
dition of premises and habits of tenants.
The past year has been full Of interest
to club women.
Il extend hearty welcome to the
clubs that have Joined the Federation.
Remember that reciprocity is the founda-
ton OF our Federation. We must give if
we expect to receive The longer Won are
members Of the Federation the more YOU
take part in the work we are irving 10
do, the more interested will YOU become
and we will be strengthened by your CO.
operation
WOMAN AND THE LAW.
During the Presidents hour, DR..
George James Baylis, of Columbia Col
lege, spoke on Woman and the Law,
in which he stirred up some dissent bv
telling the women they must have a
reverence to the law.
Mrs. John L. Scudder rose to point
Of question by asking if the women's
clubs could bring about d universal di-
vorce law. DR. NJ II. De Hart wanted
to know if the women's clubs were such
power why they could not put
woman on the commission appointed by
Congress on divorce. One woman asked
the speaker in how many cities in New
Jersey women could vote on school mat
ters. He promptly replied in three
fourths of the State, whereupen another
woman rose to the occasion by telling
DR.. Baylis he was mistaken, that the
proportion was only one-half.
Mrs. Corinne Brown of Chicago said
she herself had no reverence for the law
unless it protected her, but that it was
not the law that ruled, but the decision
of the judge, which was very different
thing.
Mrs. Staples of Hoboken gave re-
sumo of the biennial trip to California.
The secretary's report showed that
four new clubs had joined during the
year, making total of ninety-nine clubs
and over 1900 members. The Working
Girls Club of Newark has changed its
name to the Woman's Club of Newark,
because there was so much objection to
the word working" The treasurer's
report showed a balance on hand of
$32.53 after total expenditure of
$454.65, S24S.95 of which was for ex-
penses of delegates to the National Fed
GRAFTON last May.
Il AMI L IiAl1toiAOIAos
Mrs. Fannie j. Taylor reported on
Forestry and the Palisades. At the
first meeting in December, she said it
was resolved that these two departments
unite with the Palisades League in urg-
ing the club women to contribute toward
the purchase of piece of land on the
top of the Palisades, to be used as a
public park. Over 5000 was raised
and much more is promised. The re-
sponses from some of the clubs was dis
appointing, but better success is hoped
for this year.
Mrs. Taylor read an extract from a
letter sent to Governor Murphy by the
Cornell School Of Forestry asking that
more efficient forestry service in New
Jersey.
Mrs. Louise B. Silvers reported that
town Improvement was progressing rap
idly, that eighteen clubs were active in
working for clean streets, while others
We're working for special objects for
special localities, factory inspection, pub
lie baths, newsboys' clubs, baths, and a
better and more cleanly trolley service
Jersey City, she said, was making
study of model tenements, juvenile
courts, truant and vacation schools, and
the most practical way of caring for in