The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-13

National Organization Not Very
Useful Organization.

National organization MOI "eHS
Useful Organization.
Ida II. Harper. in New York Sun.
The principal and in fact almost the sole
object OF these great annual congresses II
10 amend the constitution. but on alternate
years additional zest is given by the elec-
ton OF officers. II requires very robust
constitution to stand the mending which this
one has had during it's twelve years OF
existence. The original was long since lost
in the shuttle. its present remains consist
ing only in the name and objects OF the
society. Last year there was no election.
and whole week was given to amend
ing the constitution. When IL was finally
licked into shape it consisted OF eight ar
ticles and sixteen bylaws. The congress
upon assembling this year found itself
confronted by nineteen amendments to the
constitution proper and half a dozen TO the
bylaws.
To the consideration OF these amend
ments the entire time OF the congress was
given from Monday morning until after i
o'clock the next Sunday morning. EXCEPT
the one day devoted TO electing officers.
When the smoke of battle had cleared
away and the dead and dying had been
carried off the field. it was found that. as
a result of the contest, four amendments
to the constitution had been carried, the
other fifteen tabled. lost or not acted upon,
and those to the bylaws all referred 10 q
committee. There never was a time when
one-fourth of the delegates knew what
amendment they were discussing or which
side they were voting on.
The congress is dominated absolutely by
the national board. or. as II is anectionateiy
fer cd f,xyd sf<as ssrif
an amendment passed, IL goes; IL not. the
delegates are confused and tied up by mo-
tions and counter motions, amendments 10
the amendments, points of order. questions
of privilege and parliamentary rulings. IL.
in spite OF ALL things begin TO look perilous
the official reader glides 20 the front and
tions, etc. and when the congress gets
down &c business again IL finds itself
switched on to another amendment. AT
O'Clock every day. no matter what question
is before the house. the entire body rises
to attend tea" There were over twenty
receptions" during the week, and dinners
and luncheons galore
against the power of the so-called ring
they find themselves outwitted at every
point The masses of the 600, however,
simply sit in daze of bewilderment trying
to figure out where they are at and wish
ing II was time for reception. The long
expected fight for the presidency was
the wery . ey by 9f %bes ies eoe
didate withdrew on an understanding that
her election would not be opposed two years
from now. 1t viii be interesting at that
time to note the good faith In which this
bargain is carried out Last year the re
formers went home happy because they
had passed an amendment forbidding any
person from holding any office two consecu-
tive terms. thus breaking UP the ring.
who had simply passed from one Office TO
another since the organization was founoeo.
But this year the first act of the congress
70
the president general, and the second was
TO declare the one of last year not retro
active on those already in Office. thus leav-
ing them all eligible for another position
on the official board. One Of the resolutions
passed was TO appoint committee or arbi-
tration, with power to employ attorneys.
TO settle the disputed questions which arise
in the various chapters AS numbers OF
these contain as many as twelve members
1t seems as IL no court of less Importance
than The Hague tribunal should be allowed
To sum up, the congress as whole was
more harmonious than in preceding years.
as Mrs Fairbanks is a just, a tactful and a
popular presiding oficer. but none ever was
more worthless as to results The cost OF
the congress was over 5000 There were
1000 delegates and alternates present, and.
making the very low estimate OF 500 as
the average expenses. the amount Is 100000
for their attendance. The total result OF
this great expenditure was raising flag.
receiving contributions for Continental
ments and attending twenty receptions.
The running expenses Of the organization.
according to the headquarters report, are
about $2e 900 per annum. The expenses OF
| the magazine above receipts are over $1,000.
| The total number of members admitted
| during the twelve years Is given as sz643.
| About five thousand are reported as Ia ar
| rears, and 2,720 as having resigned. The
| whole number of whom dues can be ex-
| pected in 1903 is placed at $3.50. When this
| showing is contrasted with the w. c. I. u.
| or the Federation of Clubs, with their sew
eral hundred thousand members each, and
with various other bodies. ii will be seen
| that Instead of a very large. the d. A. r.
| is really a very small organization. IL con-
tainS, however, a greater proportion OF
| wealth and social prestige than any other.
| and there never was any society of women
| which had such a political hold. This is
| partly because 1t contains so many wives
| and daughters of legislators. but principal
| ly because of its patriotic character. and
| because its members are doing what really
| is the work of the men of the country and
| is approved by them. National politics was
| apparent in every move of this last con-
| gress, and the man behind the woman was
| appallingly in evidence
| The especial achievement of this body
| has been the raising Of funds for building
| Continental Hall in Washington 10 pre-
serve revolutionary relics. hold meetings
| in, ETC. Between 10000 and $4,000 has been
| paid for a site, and there is about that
| amount on hand toward the building. II
| the society holds together until the several
hundred thousand dollars necessary is OBJ
| tanned IL will be a splendid monument 10
/ the patriotism. persistence and zealousness
| of women. With such an illustration OF
| these a great deal might be forgiven these
| annual congresses, which do so much 10
| lower the Ideals OF womanhood that the
endless toll and sacrifice of other women