The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-20
WOMEN
AT The BIENNIAL
GENERAL FEDERATION TREAS
URY SHOWS LARGE BALANCE.
Convention Work Was Resumed EARLY
After Yesterdays Interruption Re-
port on Nominations and Elections
Made by Mrs. Hamlin-AIay Afrect
Election Results.

port On NOMINATIONS and Elections
Made by Mrs. Hamlin-NIay Affect
Election Results.
Special to The Journal.
st. Louiss May 20.-Arriving on special
trains, private cars, in state delegations
or groups, the representatives from forty
five different states and two territories |
reached ST. Louis with nothing to dam
pen enthusiasm even tho rainy skies and |
delayed trunks necessitated some incon- |
venience. But sunny smiles eand cordial |
greetings, with the completeness Of local
arrangements, made the pieasantest of
impressions.
Early Tuesday morning the corridors
and halls Of the Odeon were thronged with
groups of officers, delegates and visitors
to the seventh biennial of Federated
Clubs It was a. moving panorama of |
friends: greeting each other, strangers
seeking introduction, and all intent on
completing the preliminaries of creden-
tails, location of committees and official
information. The auditorium; with seat
ing capacity for $500, admirable acoustic |
properties and abundant facilities for pub
lie utilities has, in the opening session.
had it's capacity fully taxed. The circle
of thirty boxes affords convenient loca-
ton for distinguished guests, and two Of
these have thoughtfully been reserved for
the visiting press The alphabetical ar
rangements in seating states has located |
Minnesota most favorably in the central
front. - =:
The great platform of unusual depth has
pleasing woodland scenery, and the sew
enty-five feet frontage, decorated by al
deep tropical fringe Of luxuriant palms.
The color tone Of green is relieved by
white, great masses Of snowballs being
effectively used with the rich purple Of
the f1eur de lis, the national flower Of
France The decorations about the bal
| cony again emphasize the thought of the
great event of the Louisiana purchase
from France, by combining the stars and
| stripes with the French flag and their ma
tional emblem. The ushers, young ladies
daintily gowned in white, with the l.. P.
3. badge. carry slender wands, embel-
lished by the colors chosen by the fair
red, white, blue and maize.
At the opening. sessions, as we'll as
evenings, the president, Mrs. D. T. s.
Denison Of New York.. like most Of the
speakers, was becomingly attired in white
The mayor, Rolla Wells, with the en-
trance guards, showing black Suits
seemed quite conspicuous.
1t would probably be difficult to find a
more representative assembly Of the
American women than this convention
Among them are the following: Mrs. Den
ison, who declines to be reelected to her
present position; Mrs. Robert Burdette
~,
whose efficiency has been so helpful to the
present administration; Mrs. Emma Fox
Of Michigan, the official parliamentaran,
her manual being largely adopted by wo-
mems clubs; Mrs. w. T. Coad Of South
Dakota, whose work as recording secre-
tary, has made her at once one of the
busiest and most helpful members; Mrs.
Platt Decker of Colorado, favorably men
toned for future president; also Mrs G.
II. Noyes of Milwaukee, whose ability
would make her strong candidate; Mrs.
Anna West Of Massachusetts,: a 7thoroly
representative New England woman; Mrs.
Philip Moore Of Missouri the hostess
state, who has worked untiringly for the
contamination of the plans for the bien-
NAL; Mrs. Charles Dow of New York. al
ways surrounded ft,y a. group of prominent
women, and Mrs. Charlotte Wilbour, pres
ident of Sorosis, a distinguished looking
l woman. s-*'sf , ..t-' $500"
The northwest is ably represented by
Mrs. Lydia Phillips Williams, national d.
restor AID chairman Of forestry; Miss
Margaret J. Evans of the educational COM
mittee, who gave the invocation; Mrs F.
1 81 Allen, the Minnesota state president;
Mrs T. J. Fletcher president of the Iowa
Federation; Mrs. T. H. Brown of sWiscon-
sin; Mrs. H. S. Oliver, president of North
Dakota and others. 60. - " :
The opening council of officers and pres
idents gave premonition of the dignity
and ability which the following sessions
have fully sustained The convention is
not gathering of young women, but Of
mature, dignifed. middle life; refined
faces showing lofty motives and altruistic
purposes.
In the thirteen years since the or
! ganization of the General Federation
there has been marked progress and de-
velopment. At first the membership was
largely for culture Of intellectual tastes
with conservative tendency with a hes
n with
be pledged to the reform of social or econ
omlc conditions. But since it has been
; proved that there were no political de-
mands or complications interest has been
transferred from sentiment to work, from
exclusive self-culture to lines Of progress
for the general uplifting, refining and
civilizins work Of the times. Without
lessening the advancement Of mental Gull
} turc, it has enlarged it by the organized
lines: of philanthropy education, civics
household economics and arts That wo-
men are good business managers was
shown from, the treasurer's report of a
cash balance Of $4,000, notwithstanding
the increasing departments and CORE
spending expense. - -
The delegates and alternates number
about 1000 from forty states and two
territories Our newly acquired possess
sions are represented by an Eskimo club
in Alaska, and there are reports of flour
ishing work from Porto Rico, Hawaii and
AuStralla, as We'll as from London, IN
dia, China and Chilean Santiago One
; Of the pleasantestc foreign reports was
: given by the German Countess D'IIaus-
senville, who represented Ceylon. This
shows the extent of the interest in the
women's club movement.
The social functions are many and on
an elaborate scale, expressive of southern
hospitality. The Wednesday club gave
an elegant entertainment on Tuesday to
the officers and visiting delegates, and,
while 1000 ladies attended, the gracious
cordiality and arrangement did not seem
to be overtaxed. The distinguished
women in line included the entire official
board and the most prominent society
women of ST. Louis. Apart from this.
/! Miss Helen Gould, accompanied by few
friends was the center of an interested
group. receiving the most marked atten-
ton with her characteristics quiet, lady
like manner. Her simple costume of black
! was as inconsptcuous among the many
elegant gowns as her quiet, unostentatio,ls
but grand philanthropies.
No more graceful tribute has been ex-
tended to any speaker than to-Professor
Edward Howard Griggs In the absorbing
attention which he received on the theme
4 of "The Expression and Interpretation of
Human Life lin Literature. . T. It was a
plea for the Interpretation Of this art in
daily life. Everything so far about the
convention has been most enjoyable. ;7s