The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-05-06
WOMEN'S CLUBS DRAW
THE COLOR LINE

Los Angeles Calf, May AFTER a
tv o years discussion Of the admission
of coloret women to the enaral feder-
alton. tn snti-co'orists wCn today,
when the sixth cnvention voted o'Gr-
v'helmingly 70 accept what Is known as
Il e compi omise amendments agreed
upon In Ntw York several weeEs ago.
Upon Il opening day OF the conyen-
ticn II was evident the spirit OF to-
eranoe woulc rule. There was also
lutely no bitterness in the prelimin-
airy talk outside the convention hall
This morning as predict ID, here was
suppre ssed excitement during the con-
sideiation of the charter, which came
up first, and when Mrs. A. e. Grange
preside t Of the Geotgii federation.
moved that sections and 3 OF article
H., parts of the proposed amendments.
be considered first every one knew
the battle was won.
When points of order and iaterroga-
ton points flew thick and fast, Mrs.
Lowe retired from the chair temporari-
ly, giving Mrs. DenisOn another oppcr-
tunity TO preside.
Section l2, which was considered and
finally adopted. reads;
From the state where a club mem
ber of the state federation il recon-
mended by the executive board OF the
state federation. the power of admis-
sion to remain as given in article II OF
the bylaws as follows"
Section three of article /, which viii
come up tomorrow, should be given
now to help to an understanding O.
the situation. Il reads:
The president shall refer all appll
cations for membership to the commit
tee on membership appointed by the
board of directors, for It's action upon
/ The sam The action of the commit
tee on membership shall be in writ
ing. and an unanimous vote of the
committee shall be required to eleo
! In case the Omnlittes fails 70 agree.
the application shall be referred to the
whole b jard. the written vote OF two
/ third IF wh'ch shall be nee es' ayy to
elect membership.
When discussion was fully started
on section2, Mrs, Shields of Missouri.
/ who spoke as an ..-~-.ldual woman,
who was born slave owner, rather
than for the state, offered a substitute
| ed amendment which though finally
( turned down. called out a heated de-
bate. II reads:
That clubs containing colOred wO-
men shall be eligible TO the general
federation In those states and terri
tories in which they are eligible 10
membership in their state and territor-
les and ! Gother organizations race
eligibility shall be declared by the two
thirds vote"
In the course Of the debate. which
/ though intense was at all times collect
/ ed and clear, three speeches seemed
| TO make q marked impression on the
audience. The first one was by Mrs
! Gallagher of Oslo, who ended by say
ing:
When colored women are strong
enough 10 stand on an equal footing
with the whites, let US consider theiI
admission, Dut Ia Gods name. let US
stop their progress by admitting then
at this time.
Another was by Miss Jane Adams
of Hull House, Chicago, who paid trib
uate 70 the magnanimous posiuon o
Georgia In me controversy, but de
clared race egr.,y could Dest be OBJ
tained through equality.
One OF tie last speeches was by Mrs
Adce Bradford MDis of Chicago. Whs
made a strong plea for the continues
discussion Of women OF the north
and south and for tue acceptance OF tn
compromise.
Mrs. May Alden Ward, OF Boston
president OF the Massachusetts FEEDER
alton, said tonight there was two smal
points on which the state was not SAT
ished One was tnat the convention
suspended the rules for a viva voc
vote instead Of by ballot, Il being un
certain under tne circumstances tina
there was the necessary two third
vote. The other point reverts 20 a nc
tice given by Miss Adams that sh
wished 90 amend section three tomol