New-York tribune., 1903-03-16
BROOKLYN WOMEN AROUSED.
Their Protest to the State Federation
Against Election Methods.

Ever since the convention of the New-York State
Federatio of Womens Clubs held recently In
Brooklyn dissatisfaction has been brewing among
the clubs of that city. The Brooklyn women dc
not like the way the elections were conducted on
that OCCASION and are displeased with good many
things in the management of the State FEEDER
alton. This displeasure has eliminated in a mani
festo, drawn up by committee of the Brooklyn
Women's Club with Mrs. Truman j. Backus as
chairman and signed by~many of the leading club
women of the city. 1t reads as follows
Mesdames: The recent convention OF the State
Federation held in Br9oklyn and the stu still, 19re no
Federation OF Womeas Clubs have naturally @ oGca
involved through membership in our State FEEDER
This body. having been eight years In organized
operation may be considered TO have fairly tested
s 0Sn a sated lo IN Hrtice Of It's
namely. .'to bring into relations OF mutual helpful
reso pssouRsoHt he t6e sfate ana OF
The clubs of Brooklyn, being largely composed OF
women who are efficient in educational. philan-
thropic and reform enterprises and at the same
assumed TO constitute fair exponent of club work
and public opinion as related to the club move
pit and civic sentiment sympathetic toward their
own tEa m Of anq beP resp 10
Regret has therefore been the more poignant
have seemed to lessen rather than to promote the
respect and pune b d tor tne sue
eraI.
marked since the last annual convention and has
been frequently expressed even In the inner circles
To the undersigned women. therefore, compris
ing several constituent members of the New York
promoters Of its interests. it has seemed present
duty respectfully solicit the attention of the
ecufive board toward certain elements of weakness
Federation. These have already qualified its useful
ness and infuence they mus IN IN our 3HGgen n
~ MOST Of the clubs in the federation have mod
est treasures, and meet comparatively large obli-
cations. Their members are mainly women com
mitted already to large altruistic objects who
prominence in new fields Of enterprise. but to in
dorse progressive ideas. to promote kindly fellow
New objects OF effort can win and keep. their
sympathy only when generally approved IS fundSa- S
good and likely to be promoted without local or
TSe NeWYork State Federation has not how
ever hitherto been fortunate In selecting such OBJ.
jects nor in establishing their hold upon general
Vhich brings the commercial elements of
into club work. or which becomes q political ISSUE
IN sS association expressly founded to stimu-
late good feeling, dignined womanhood and renned
social aims. the mechanism Of nominations and
cacy and unselfshness Partisanship. elect!oneer-
ing in all IS forms HndSe HHcltement ne strons S4
ouistes ali are sure disastrously upon the
Ks they are always disagreeabe to refined men
from the organizations which tolerate them. Dur
fRe the short life OF our federation eur elections
have been repeatedly marred by political exped-
ents of the most undesirable sort; Harsh and un-
f1st personaities have been launched against ind-
Sreedom Of voting delegates has been tampered
With and in some instances victory mas been won
.rirs conseduent eXcitements have seriously In
tsrfered with helpful discussion of those important
rftsas which ostensIbly constitute the main OBJ
ject of each convention. and which In other States