The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-06-02
FEDERATED WOMEN'S CLUBS.
Seventh Biennial Ia St. Louis r1ay
Izth-the Largest Organization of
Women in the WorId-M0re than
5000 Delegates and Alternates in
Attendance

w OHhCh Ah SbS w Va sAHs~s>
5000 Delegates and Alternates in
Attendance.
Communicated
The seventh Biennial OF the General
Federation>pf Women's Clubs convened
in St. LouisNay 18th, 1904. The re-
port of the credential committee showed
more than three thousand delegates
and alternates in attendance represent
ing forty-ive State Federations, with
membership of two hundred thousand
women. There were perhaps ten thou
sand club women in the city.
The General Federation is the largest
organization of women in the world,
and this was the largest gathering OF
women on record. Mrs. d. Z. s. Deni-
son of New York City, was President.
The session was held in the Odeon
theatre. a magnificent auditorium, and
under the same roof were Ionic and
Doric Masonic Halls which were used for
committee rooms. In another large
room were post Office, hall dozen tele-
phones, as many type writers, and
Bureau of Information. There were rest
rooms and dressing rooms also.
The meetings were intensely interest
ing. On the programme were many
bright women who talked with ease and
force The business sessions were re-
markedly harmonious and were con-
Quoted with dispatch. The only inter-
ruptiOns of note coming from women
at the back of the hall who frequently
called out madam President, we can't
hear one word 3
| The departments of General Fedora
ton work were first discussed in confer
ence, and afterward in open convention,
thus giving one informal and no one
more general consideration of these de-
partments, which are: Literature, Edu
cation, Child Labor, Industrial Train
ing, Household Economics. Civil Service
Reform, Library Extension, Civics, and
Art. One very interesting session was
hearing the reports read by representa-
tives from foreign clubs including sever
al from Alaska, from Shanghai, London,
Honolulu, India. Mexico, Porto Rico,
Chill and Australia. One delegate from
Alaska complained of being classed
among foreign clubs, saying that Uncle
Sam treated Alaska like a red-headed
step child, and that the Federation was
not much more maternal.
The election of officers scarcely created
a ripple. There was much more interest
ten cents per capita tax.
The city OF st. Louis kindly offered the
use of it's voting boxes. One speaker ex-
pressed doubt as to whether we could
afford to use them.
| SandWiched between business meet
ings and conference were RECEPTIONS They
were so numerous that it was impOssl-
BILE to accept all. The most elaborate
function, perhaps, was the luncheon
rendered by the Board of Lady Managers
of the Exposition, to the visitors. 1t
must have been a Herculean task to
serve three thousand guests. Yet they
were prepared in all save room for the
occasion. Some reporters have scattered
abroad the idea that there was a scram-
bic for something to eat, resulting IN
shortage. There was a great crush be-
cause the rooms were inadequate. But
the store of sandwiches, salad, cake,
cream and coffee was abundant and ele
giant. Another delightful occasion was
a reception in the Botanical Gardens. by
the Wednesday Club of st. Louis. Still
another was on the grounds when tea
was served by natives OF China, Japan
and Ceylon. Receptions We're rendered
in some of the most beautiful homes in
the city. The whole city was Eat home
to the delegates, our badges being an
open sesame everywhere.
1t was surprise to the women OF the
West to find a Southern woman, men,
Der of the nominating committee who
staid at home because the committee
met at night and she had no one to
take her home. 1t was hard to believe
that this honor which other women
were aching for, was SO lightly laid
aside.
The following newspaper extracts are
appended: From address of welcome by
Mrs. Fischel: "You have heard bad re-
ports of our city government. and our
city officers, but we have no skeleton in
closets now, they have all been exposed.
You have heard the worst of u.s.
''They say Mrs. Robert J. Burdett
changes her dress three times day, and
never appears twice in the same cos
tume'
ANY one who believes that the aver
age club woman does not dress well,
should linger in the lobby of Hotel JET |
ferson about seven o'clock p. IN. They
might be appropriately called the smart
set, so beautifully were they attired
yesterday evening-beautiful women
wearing exquisite toilets. st. Louis
Post Dispatch
"Mrs. Sarah Platt- Decker came to |
the platform amidst a storm of applause. |
Mrs. Decker spoke of the hardships the |
Colorado women had to endure because
they happened to have the ballot.
1--WE have been written up and written
down, we have been interviewed and
caricatured ''-Ghobe-Democrat.
There is no uncertain note regarding |
the attitude of the convention on the |
divorce question. At some previous |
meeting, all former Presidents of this |
body were made honorary Presidents. |
The convention rescinded that action, |
and followed this, by placing all save one
was no less marked toward a Norman |
woman from Utah, passing resolutions !
which will exclude them.
The reading of reports from State |
Presidents dragged little until it be-
came North Carolina turn. When Mrs.
Lindsay Patterson, President of the |
North Carolina Federation, came for
ward, she put her arm round Mrs. Denl-
son saying ''it scares me to death to
speak, North Carolina boasts that
she sent more men to the war than any
other State and no coward ever left her
borders, but | know one who left last
week and stands before you now" The
report was strong and independent
showing that the weakness she spoke
of was physical only. Her message was:
1.-The men of North Carolina still believe
in God, read Walter Scott and vote the
straight Democratic ticket. The women
do as they please, and they usually please
to please the men. The people of North
Carolina 40 c0nStrvati live and have their
effort t, ;:,.;rt:r ,.la Aurth and West.
" in,,ly I = +:-,,t E-r+ /