Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1903-08-21

/ equal justice.
There can be with us generous for,
bearance and the effort to forget sell
and work together to achieve the glory
OF the grand cause for which we have
pledged our support.
The lows Federation is . part Of
that great movement that has christen-
Cd the new century, the woman century
pot the new woman, for there really
isn't any new woman, she is the same
old girl after Ill, who has know when
to take occasion by the hand and make
the bounds Of freedom wider vet, and
grasp the skirts Of happy chance and
breast the waves Of circumstance.
Our Federation is but twelve months
old: through the the efforts Of the Ida
Wells Club Of Ottumwa the Iowa State
Federation of Afro-American women
was organized May 20. 1902, and not
with silver spoon in its mouth but
We trust II will live long and prosper.
We began in 1901 with several clubs,
six literary and philanthropic, one
secdlewoFk club
We now have fifteen clubs. These
cfabs are working along many lines Of
thoaghs. but whether working along
ethical, intellectual or social lines the
the sams underlying idea Is present,
the Same purpose Is manifest the bet
terment Of the race.
Ne have mapped ont great work,
we must now give our time to carrying
! ont tho details. You Ill know this
sore difficult than conceiving Of the
.. llaa. ~ wilh the details come dis.
afagements Il = impossible to be
ineplred with the breadth Of vision
necessary 70 overlook the discourage
ments Of the moment and keep ones
thpaghts fixed on the great end to be
accomplished.
Our plan Of work is IN excellent one.
I Il has been difficult however to carry
il out 90 . 70 divide the work equally
oser the state. Principally on account
81 ovsr lack Of knowledge Of the women
snd their Atneas for certain places.
Isut as We come together year after
year We shall gain in two ways; we
si,all learn to do our work with system
and We shall become acquainted and
know who are the women that have
time and inclination for certain lines
OF work.
A spirit Of good will and friendship
has existed between the officers of the
FEEDER alton. And / hope that all sue
ceeding executive boards will have as
happy term Of Office as has been in
the period Of our tenure,
The board held : meeting in Musca-
tine April .. there was much business
transacted and there was ever mani-
tested An earnest desire to advance the
isterest Of the lows State Federation.
The sdministrs ton has tried to carry
ont faithfully the policy Of the Feder-
Sation = indicated By lines Of work
! adopted at LAST meeting.
There was appointed 1t last meeting
thr % standing committees Educatio-
nal, Social Purity and Domestic
s Science. 5s:.ss " .as.
While the initial work OF the COM
mittess haye been comparatively slow,
yet ! think We have succeeded in lay
ing sIgood Foundation that will assure
ultimate success. q #
We have : Reciprocity Bureau whose
duty II u 70 keep Federation literature,
such 9 programs, calendars, constitu-
tion. etc 70 acqusint clubs with one
another, 70 exchange club papers. to
farnish on application letters Of intro
ductioa 70 club Misunderstanding where
there ars Federated clubs, in short to
establish itself : bureau Of general
helpfulness.
The Board secured . space in the
BYsTAADEs, for which we have reason
to Be proud and thankful. For in this
way the atate has been covered, prac.
tically and greater number Of people
have been reached in this way than
any other.
Our Executive Board is com posed Of
the seven general officers of the Fed
Grafton and they need the loyalty and
sco-opera ton Of every club in the Fed.
GRAFTON and every woman in the clubs
The communications sent out by them
and the committees should be respond.
ed 70 promptly BY your corresponding
secretary. the recommendations they
offer should be considered by your club
in open session and whenever possible
accepted and acted upon,
4 plead for my successors and sue
ceeding committees promptness ia
answering MI communications; they
are not desigued Tor the waste. basket.
& T. ~ the observance Of this obliga.
tioa that " On beneflt each other.
s. nuch ~ been lid in print and
r. ssoat ~ 'ahcvin aad pnahin''Is