The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-15
BEGINNING OF TIE ANNUAL CON-
VENTIoN OF THE FEDERATION
AT ALBERT LEA
PAIR OF PROTESTS BY
MESDAMES GRAVES AND BUTTS
Treasurer Shows That the Oreaniza-
ton Has Small BaIance-DeIesate
Attend Reception at Albert Lea
Collese-Mrs. Jessie Mercer to Talk
for Servant Girls Today.
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe
ALBERT LEA, Mimi, Oct. lift
club women would only answer their
letters" bewaiIed Mrs w. f. Graves,
of st. Paul, corresponding secretary of
the state federation, "if club women
would only pay their bills" lamented
Mrs. E. B. Butts, Of Saltwater, the re-
firing federation treasurer.
These two complaints were the only
ones registered against Minnesota club
women at the opening session of their
annual convention this afternoon III
the Albert Lea Presbyterian church.
AS one club woman expressed it:
"Everything else was lovely" Mrs.
Graves protest was made during the
course of her report as corresponding
secretary and prefaced her formal res
ignation of that Office. Mrs. Butts
complaint was expressed in letter
which represented her at the federa-
ton yesterday, she herself not being
able to be present. Mrs. Butts letter
stated that seventy clubs had not paid
their dues for the coming year, and
that had it not been for the advertising
in the year book, means of obtaining
money that many club women had OBJ
jected to, the federation would have
found a sad deficit. AS it is the fedora
ton has a balance on hand, according
to Mrs. Butts report, Of $10S43, al
though only $31.15 was realized from
the sale Of the year books.
About Club Women Present.
About 200 club women were present
IN the auditorium of the Presbyterian
church this afternoon when Mrs. La
Penotiere called the convention to or
der. Because Of the tardy arrival of
the special train the convention was
not called to order until 2:30. It was
thought best to postpone the executive
board meeting and the PRESIDENT an
ual address. Mrs. R. B. Skinner of
Albert Lea, welcomed the delegates !;
Mrs. La Penotiere responded briefly
and then the reports of the officers
and district vice presidents were
heard.
In her report as corresponding sec
rotary, Mrs. Graves stated that the
work of the office had doubled in the
past year, and suggested that unless
the club women were more disposed to
assist by prompt attention to inquiries
the office should be made a paid one.
The report further stated that twenty
eight new clubs have Joined the fed
Grafton during the year and three had
disbanded. Because no one can be
found to accept the office of president
of the Minnesota Consumers League
Of st. Paul and Minneapolis that or
ganization is inactive.
The following committee on invita-
lions was appointed today: Mrs. H.
F. Dockstater, Newport; Mrs. F. A.
Ross, Blue Earth; Mrs. III. L. Paddock,
Duluth.
Attend Reception.
This evening the visiting club wom-
en- DOTTED tailor gowns and donned
evening dress to attend reception
at Albert Lea college. Local club wom-
en-, assisted by officers of the fedora
ton, received. The college was bril-
liantly Illuminated and handsomely
decorated with flowers. Mrs. Norman
Nash McFarran, ST. Paul, sang.
The interesting feature of tomor-
rows meeting will be the considera-
ton of Household Economics" At
the afternoon session Mrs. Jessie Mer-
Ger, secretary Of the Servant Girls
union, will present the subject from
the servant girls standpoint. At the
evening session Mrs. G. o. Welch will
present the matter of a state reforma-
tory for women, and it is expected that
the federation will take some definite
action in the matter. Thursday is the
important day Of the convention, for
on that day will be decided what
means are to be taken by the fedora
ton to increase its revenue.