Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-05-16
National Federation Of Women.

session at Los Angeles, Cal, was
formed with thirty-three individual
clubs, in thirteen States, which consti-
tuted the charter membership. 1t
now has scventy-three individual clubs,
with membership Of 72,7OO. Ten
years ago State Federation of clubs
was admitted, and now there are 80
State iederations, composed Of 3,215
clubs and 2ll 1863 members.
1t viii! thus he seen that the growth
betokens a great interest taken in ele-
waiting the social and moral nature of
woman by mutual aid and co-opera-
ton in development Of incentive in
the higher planes of life. But, like all
other organizations, as it became
large it developed the natural result
of all endeavor, to make it follow in
certain lines marked out by popular
sentiment, irrespective of right, or
based upon prejudices that are in
grained into human nature. One Of
these was the color line. 1t came up
in the Philadelphia session of 1898, Oh
tanned recognition as a question to be
settled affirmatively or negatively at
Milwaukee, two years later, and has
ever since been the subject of discus.
sion at each meeting. At the Fifth
Biennial session, the matter came to
direct issue by the application Of New
Era Club, of Boston, largely composed
of women of the negro race. The
proposition was thus formally sub.
mitted and the President of the club
was at Milwaukee, expecting to be
seated. A motion to admit was
laid on the table, owing TO the fact
that a precedent would thus be estab.
lished, before the organization was
ready for final determination OF the
matter. The action taken was the
proper one, for it held in allegiance the
whole matter, until such time as some
plan for reorganization could be ef-
fected, if that, after consideration,
should be deemed necessary. Since
that time many resolutions passed by
the clubs took conservative grounds
and generally expressed faith that
"the confidence and moderation which
has compelled the admiration OF the
general federation in the past will con.
tinue to control the future"
The matter was brought forth in the
California convention, by the report
of divided committee appointed at
the Denver session, one of which fa.
vored the maintenance of individual
clubs each with one delegate to the
general federation, and the other rec
ommending the elimination of individ-
ual clubs and leaving all business con-
troll with the State declarations. Mas.
s.chusetts, as she always is, was the
champion of tho inferior race. Her
delegation favored State control,
whereby all such matters of opinion
might be made to accord with local
sentiment. 1t is probably we'll that
the Bay State idea was rejected by the
Convention, for it is evident from the
present sentiment. that any effort to
admit an unwelcome element would
become an entering wedge to sever the
present harmony and pride in the
work so far we'll accomplished.
The membership, as finally agreed
upon is stated in the following amend.
ment TO the constitution, which reads
Ms follows:
Each Federated Club, National So.
ciety or kindred society of fifty members
or less shall be entitled to be represented
by one delegate; for a membership of
between fifty and hundred by two del
egates and for each additional one hun
dred members one each additional dele
gate.
Each State or Territory Federation
of twenty-five clubs or less shall be en-.
titled to be represented by five dele
gates. Each State or Territorial FEEDER
alton shall be entitled to one additional
delegate for every additional twenty-fi five
clubs"
The convection closed on the 9Th
inst, with the election of Mrs. Denni-
son, of New York, as President. She
was selected, OF rather recommended,
by the nominating committee, and
received ego votes. 22O being cast for
Mrs. Platte Decker, OF Denver, al.
though the latter declined 10 run.
The election, it is stated, was attended
with scenes Of great excitement, which
taken with the Il" scattering" vote, indi-
Gates that Madam takes rs much in
terest in such parliamentary matters as
Mister.
n