Rock Island Argus., 1904-06-11
(By EmiIy Grant Hutchingsl

(By Emily Grant Hutchings)
81. Louis. June 1.-The important
place Of women in the worlds econ
omy is fully set forth at the Louisiana
purchase exposition. In every depart
ment her influence and taste are dem
Onstrated From The dome Of festi-
val hall to the remotest corner of
grounds where floral decorations lend
their charm, woman's handiwork is TO
be found.
That women are able to cope with
men in almost all fields Of human ac-
tivity has been proved within the past
decade. The worlds fair visitors whose
exposition standards are based upon
what they saw at the Chicago fair. II
years ago. are apt to ask, after tour
Of the grounds. where j. your wo-
mems building? l. there no pavilion
where the work of women is display
ed? Are women ignored altogether
at your great worlds fair?"
Then the mind wandcrs back to the
beautiful woman's building at Chi.
cago, where paintings, statuary, laces1
and embroidery are on exhibition.
where the entire building was a monu-
Inent to woman's skill and ability. and
there iS feeling of regret that the
commissioners should have forgotten
or ignored their sisters and wives
their daughters and swecthearts. Yet
the women were not forgotten. The
shy timid creature who could bc over
looked or rclegatcd To the background
IaITt Z h.sI
American woman If today She iS
creature of the past. and IN her place
has come the strong. capable. en-
lghtcucd woman of the twentieth
century, who does not force herself to
the front, but who takes her place
there by reason of what she is and
what she can accomplish.
We no longer hear of the ''poettcss."
the "doCtorcsS." the "authoreSs." but
wc have more women poets. doctors
aud authors than ever before. And 50
it were Il confession Of inferiority and |
weaku,S~ to huidlr the products of
woman's hands i'm a building 10y them |
selves. as if women were afraid of a |
comparison with men. a. if their work |
could have no possible chance for
award when brought into competition |
with the work Of men.
The act of congress that made the |
Louisiana purchase exposition Il pos
sihiIity outlined the work of the |
board IF lady managers i'm such terms |
as To preclude the possibility of any
separation in the work of men aud
women. In every department the sex
distinction i eliminated. the work of
men and women being admitted on
exactly the same basis. The fact that
there il to be a woman on each jury
of award that Is TO pass judgment on
the work of women iS concession.
not to women. but to the men on the
jury. who are much less likely to
know about the things made exclusive
~ by women than is the modern wo-
man. with her Unsuitable thirst for
knowledge, to know about the work
of men. the work in which she has
not yet taken a hand.
In the administrative departments
of the exposition much of the most
important work has been intrusted to
women. and their compensation is
the same as that paid to men holding
similar positions. In a few Instances,
women have performed missions and
accomplished tasks that would have
resulted in failure had they been in
trusted 10 men.
When the federal government was
"a I<ed for loan of four and onc-half
of dollars. Mrs. Daniel Man
ming. president of the board of
lady managers, went to Washington
and Iobbied for the bill among the
friends of her distinguished husband,
thus securing enough votes to insure
lis passage.
There was Il general wish on the
part of the American people that
Queen Nictoria's Jubilee presents
might form a part of the great expo
sition That these priceless treasures
would actually be sent to -. Louis
To remain ON exhibition for seven
months was thought To be impossible.
for the world remembered with what
and anxiety they were
sent through the United Kingdom. a