The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-30
NOVELTY WORN OFF
Wisconsin Federation of Clubs, Says
Mrs. Youmans, Is Getting on
g a Working Basis. ..:
Work Of the Year Well Sustained
Discussion of Reciprocity
by Mrs. Williams.

by Mrs. Williams.
From a Staff Correspondent.
Ashland, Wis, Oct. 30.-Meeting on the
edge or the state and in the least organ
lied portion. the annual convention of the
Wisconsin Federation of Women's clubs
Is not quite SO large as usual, but there
Is no falling off in interest in the con-
ventlon. There has been a. few SUCCESS
lions that a change Of spirit has come
over the organizations, but not change
accompanied by permanent loss.
|, One reference of this kind, was made by
the president, Mrs. H. M. Youmans, who
said: Il think club work in Wisconsin is
losing the patronage Of those to whom it
was merely a fad; you know we have en-
joyed the glory of being to some extent
the fashion, Many women have joined
clubs because they considered it the
proper thing to do. And you and I have
profited by this condition of things.
Fashion helps amazingly in launching new
enterprises, but it is not very substan-
tial basis upon which torbuild permanent
structure, and the welfare of the club of
the future must rest upon the women who
believe in it and work for it. The novelty
of the club is wearing off, The members
who were attracted only by its exterior
not be many years before our organization
will be shorn of those whose province it Is
merely to adorn and that we shall be re-
duced to the commonplace basis of having
only working bees in the hive
Mrs. Youmans said Of the years work:
1T has been without meteoric display, but
rational, steady and well sustained"
Some Loss OF Steam.
Miss L. E. Stearns, in opening the dis
cussion of reciprocity, made the confess
sion that she thought the state federation
had lost little of it's enthusiasm, which
she likened to steam in the engine. AS a
remedy she suggested a committee on
publicity to keep the work before the
public through the press, to which 1t
already owed heavy debt, and COM
mittee on club extension to work with
district vice presidents in organizing new
clubs and in getting them interested in
federation work.
One effect, perhaps, of the wearing off
of the novelty in club. work Is the sur
prising absence of candidates for Offices
Hitherto in Wisconsin there have been
large numbers Of willing women, If not
aspiring ones, on the occasion of the
biennial elections, but now all is changed
The unofficial canvass OF the situation
| made by individuals has not revealed
single woman who would be acceptable to
| the state who is known to be willing to
accept the presidency. The office is now
diligently searching for the woman Win
| uncertain results.
Changes In Constitution.
This situation resulted yesterday in a
change in the constitution Of the fed
Grafton relating to elections. The last
election was conducted by means of an
informal ballot for nominations, and was
very tedious and nerve-racking process.
This, coupled with the difficulty Of find
ing out what women can be induced to
accept office led the federation to return
| to the plan of having a nominating COM
| m1ttee. In order to represent fully every
| section of the state, a member Will be
elected by each district at the convention
alternating with the election. This Will
| give the committee a year in which to
! make it's selection. =
/ The only other change in the constitu-
| ton was the addition of a. second. vice
president and a general federation sec
rotary to the List of general OFFICERS:
Speakers from Abroad.
| The program Of the convention is CEN
tered around the interests representedz by
| the principal standing committees and
for each subject one speaker from abroad
has been secured to give breadth of view
to the treatment of the subject and va
riety in the presentation. Reciprocity was
the general topic yesterday and the SUBJ
ject was opened by the presentation OF
| the report of the chairman of the reci-
| procity bureau, Mrs. G. E. McDill. This
showed that. the bureau was we'll sup
piled with manuscripts and lists Of speak
| ers and lectures who will go before clubs
| on varied terms. The question Of a CEN
sorship on the material offered the bureau
| is vexing one.
| Mrs Lydia Phillips Williams Of Mime
apolis, former president of the Minnesota
| Federation Of Women's Clubs, and a di-
rector of the General Federation, was the
visiting speaker. She was introduced by
Mrs Youmans as an expert In club work.
She took broad view of reciprocity, deal
ing chiefly with the principle rather than
with methods. In it's consideration she
called attention to the appropriate senti-
ment, "Separated, we are units of weak
ness: aggregated, we are batteries OF
power" The basic principle Of reciprocity
named by the speaker was helpfulness;
it's motive power, the spirit Of not what
we get, but what we give.
| success in reciprocity" Mrs. Williams
| said, depends on each woman doing her
part" She declared that an ideal that
could not be reduced to a working princi-
pie is mere sentiment, so she took up
briefly the most important methods OF
aiding reciprocity, dwelling especially
upon the value of year books If understood
and properly studied She also exalted
the value and influence Of personal contact
as a. healthy stimulus, promoting club and
| individual growth and vigor.
Nothing to BE Desired.
The local arrangements are admirable
and quite repay the delegates for the long
journey. The Presbyterian church, in
which the meetings are being held, Is
given an air of elegance and luxury by the
lavish use Of oriental rugs and wall hang
ings The platform is a bower Of green
| and flowers. the front being fringed with
potted plants and handsome vases OF
| white chrysanthemurns and red carna-
lions being placed on tables and piano
The restroom, committee and exhibition
rooms, are equally attractive and honey
supplying every convenience. The pages
and ushers, in pretty white. frocks, are
the charming society young women Of the
| city.
An Hour of Music.
The convention adjourned at o'clock
! yesterday to visit the Brazelton Conserva-
| tory of Music for musical hour. In the
evening a large and delightful reception
| was given at the home Of Mrs. Thomas
Bardon, one Of the founders Of the state
federation and one Of it's most faithful
officers. The appointments were simple
but beautiful the decorations being car