The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27
THE FEDERATIoN-AxD WHY.

THE FEDERATION-AND WHY.
a correspondent of the Journal asks to be
informed as to the purpose of the Fedora
ton Of women's Clubs which is 10 meet in
biennial session in Los Angeles this week;
what the organization is meant for-the
cause of its being, in Shorthand what 1t
expects to achieve at its meetings. These
questions are somewhat embarrassing. 1t
is the Journals desire to supply definite
and accurate information whenever posi-
BILE to readers who seek its aid, but in this
case it is obliged TO confess an inability to
furnish the intelligence sought for. AS a
matter of fact, it does not know why the
Federation of Womens Clubs ever feder-
ated nor what is the purpose of it's exist
ence. This ignorance, it must be said III
explanation and justification, is not due TO
indifference. 1t has taken note OF the fed
Grafton from time to time since it came
into being; it has studied its proceedings,
has endeavored to discover what it is here
for" and precisely what are its intentions
and aims, but, humilating as the &C
succeeded in penetrating the mystery.
What an individual womans club is ev-
erybody knows. 1t is a body of women
organized for the purpose of gaining men
tai improvement through the reading and
discussion of papers" of great profundity
and solemnity on all sorts of topics save
those bearing on practical everyday life.
1t is literary" above all things, first, last
and all the time. There is a definite pur-
pose in such a club and a discernible, if
less distinct, result But what is true of
single club can hardly be true of a fed
Grafton. Papers are read at the biennial
sessions, of course, but comparatively few
persons present are able 10 hear them.
And if they could hear them they are the
same sort Of papers they have been listen
ing to for years at their home clubs and,
therefore, add nothing in the way of intel
lectual culture. AS for achievements,
though the Journal has Intercepted many
club women on the subject, they have each
and all replied with the feminine vagueness
and inconsequence pleasing in a general
way to the lover of women, but so unsatis-
factory to the seeker after facts and sta
tistics. They were not quite sure what had
been or was to be accomplished. OF only
one thing were they certain, and that was
that the delegates always had a perfectly
lovely time
Perhaps that is what the federation was
designed for-to permit those who attend
it's sessions to have lovely time, to wear
their best gowns and bonnets, to go to re-
ceptions and teas and luncheons, to be
taken on excursions, to meet other women
in fine attire. to travel across the country
like flock of gay-plumaged birds, to take
part in elections and so have a taste of
politics. to get wildly excited, to take
Sides" to quarrel, even to be almost riot
ous-in brief to enjoy a bit of life away
from the domestic environment. Whether
this was the intention of the founders of
the federation or not it is a good enough
purpose, and in the absence of official in
formation the Journal advances it with
some confidence to it's inquiring CORE
spondent as the probable explanation of
the existence and continued life of the fed.
eratiorl
The ladies at Los Angeles this week are
billed to read papers on art, Audubon, asso-
citation, civil-service reform, civics, fores-
try, education, industrial problems, litera-
ture, Libraries, reciprocity and "Vogner,"
but it is safe to say that the majority Of
those in attendance will come away with
few ideas CLEANED from those papers. What
they will tell when they return to their
homes is how they elected their candidate
for president, how they managed the color
question, how hateful the opposition was,
what they saw in and about Los Angeles,
how delightfully."- hospitable the Los Angeles
ladies were and how, altogether, they had a
perfectly lovely time. And If it is not
worth while for woman TO travel across
the country to have such time, then the
blame must lie on the federation, but who
shall be so rash as to frown upon it for
that reaSOn2