Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1903-01-21

tain to and maintain its maximum
 capacity for efficient service.
 As clubs, we have in Arizona, passe,
 through the purely self-culture stage
 and have by federation signifled ou
 readiness to begin broad work in SO
 ciaI service. We stand upon tn
 threshold of great opportunities. WI
 are in an almost commonwealth; a re zion in many respects unique, a nc
 therefore frequently presenting nev
 questions that cannot be solved by application of the methods that hay,
 been evolved from the experience O.
 older states. For these reasons. as
 said a year ago, the problems involved
 in advancing and establishing the ma
 terial interests of our territory, art more than suciftient to wholly absorl the time and energy of our men, and it therefore devolves upon us in large measure to see to it that science, his tory, literature, music, art, and all
  neglected amid the stress of new en. vironment. More than this: munich pal housekeeping, development of oul educational system, equitable legisla, tiOn for women and children, care Oi the immorally defective, scientific housekeeping and home making; and the preservation of our archaeological heritage of our Indian legends, and of our pioneer history, all await and greatly need the attention that it is our special province to bestOw. and that as an organized body we have the power to give.
 The National Consumers League. the National Mothers Council, and the National Household Economics Association all appeal to us to aid them in their great work, and offer far more than they ask for in furnish ing bibliOgraphies' course of study, and methods of investigation.
 The general federation at its last convention especially recommend the initiation, maintenance and improve ment of child labor laws, and the creation of committees on recipro- city, civics, civil service reform and forestry and irrigation. It is for us to choose at this time in which of these lines we shall most interest ourselves in the immediate future. Your ex- ecutive board as the result of a con- ference held during the year espec- ially recommend that departments of education, civics, history (of Ari- zona), forestry and household eco monies be established, and that club bureau of reciprocity and travelling libraries be made features of our work As you will readily rec OgniZe, it was with these recommen- datiOns especially in mind that the present program was prepared.
 . A beginning has already been made for bureau of reciprocity in a col lection of club and federation year books. 1 would suggest that in the of bureau of recipro- city the officers put in charge of it be a chairman and the presidents of our clubs, thus placing it in direct touch with each club. Reciprocity is the keynote of the whole club movement, and the bureau should be one of the tion.
 The need and importance of club extension in our territory need not be dilated upon. 1 am sure we all be- lieve with Mrs. Dennison that, as as a means of development and good cheer, can take the place of the club in the sparsely settled district.
 F Nowhere more than here are travel ing libraries needed. Not only li- braries of general literature for the isolated towns and mining regions, but special libraries for our own use in the pursuit of particular lines of study. One of the greatest difficult ties that confronts us is the dearth of specific literature. It will probably be some time before we are able to accomplish a great deal along these lines, but a beginning should be made. An annual tax of ten cents per capita, with our present member ship. would yield a sufficient sum to procure a special library in any one of many general subjects in which we are all equally interested.
 Along educational lines there is ur- gent need for informing, first our selves. then the general public con cerning the most advanced educa- tional methods, and following this the introduction of these methods into our public school system. Kin 1ergarten. manual training. and na- ture study should early receive our attention. All these sub Iects should have a place on our club programs. ---.
 The strict enforcement of cOmpul- sorry education laws should also re- ceive our early attention. When it is that statistics show one sixth of the crime committed in the United States to be by citizens who are wholly illiterate, that one-third Is committed by those who are par tially illiterate, or barely able to read or write, and that a ten times greater percentage of illiterates than of those possessing the elements of a common school education commit crime, it becomes evident that com pulsory education would prevent a vast amount of crime, and is, there fore, of vital importance.
 In a recent conversation with one of our leading educators, l was in- formed that our present compulsory laws are practically value less. because of the nature of the pro- visions for their enforcement. This same educator also suggested that there was a great work for our Wom- en's Clubs in the artistic decoration of school houses, in beautifying school grounds, in visiting schools and learning the teachers needs, and in bringing the home and school nearer together.
 Various civic features especially call for our interest at the present time. The change from a territorial form of government to statehood which we anticipate in the near fu ture, offers great opportunity for in telligent work in laying the fOunda- tion for the government of our new state. It will be easier to introduce good features at the outset than to replace poor ones later. Juvenile court laws, equitable legislation for women and children, suitable com pulsory laws, and laws providing for greatly improved methods in dealing with adult criminals are also among the things which require your at tention.